Amusement and Recreation Attendants Salary
The median pay for a amusement and recreation attendants in Iowa is $27,430/year ($13.19/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $21K at the entry level to $35K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $30,869 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,064/month, about 54.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $27K get you in Iowa?
About amusement and recreation attendants
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for amusement and recreation attendants in Iowa runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $32K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,064/month, which is 55.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for amusement and recreation attendantss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level amusement and recreation attendants (10th percentile) start around $21K. Mid-career wages sit at $27K. Top earners bring in $35K or more, a $13K spread from bottom to top.
Amusement and Recreation Attendants salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $29K | +6% | 510 |
| Iowa City | $29K | +5% | 400 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $28K | +2% | 1,700 |
| Sioux City | $27K | -1% | 150 |
| Dubuque | $27K | -1% | 190 |
| Ames | $27K | -1% | 110 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $26K | -4% | 340 |
| Cedar Rapids | $24K | -14% | 460 |
Compare to other states
Track amusement and recreation attendants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a amusement and recreation attendant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $27K, rent takes 55.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for amusement and recreation attendants in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new amusement and recreation attendants typically earn — is $21K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,280/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 83% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is amusement and recreation attendant a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $27K here vs. $32K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for amusement and recreation attendants?
Iowa pays $27K median vs. the U.S. average of $32K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $31K — below the national median.
How much do amusement and recreation attendants make in Iowa?
The median is $27,430 a year, that works out to about $13 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $21,340, and experienced amusement and recreation attendants can clear $34,750. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $27K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,907/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 55.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a amusement and recreation attendants salary go in Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median amusement and recreation attendants salary is worth about $30,869 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do amusement and recreation attendants get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.