Amusement and Recreation Attendants Salary
The median pay for a amusement and recreation attendants in Iowa City, IA is $28,870/year ($13.88/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $20K at the entry level to $49K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.51), which stretches that salary to about $31,548 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $962/month, about 47.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $29K actually covers in Iowa City, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Iowa City’s Regional Price Parity (91.51). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About amusement and recreation attendants
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What this looks like in Iowa City
Amusement and recreation attendants pay in Iowa City tracks closely to the national median, $29K locally vs. $32K nationwide, a 10% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $962/month, which is 48.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.51 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for amusement and recreation attendants in metros near Iowa City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $28K | $30K |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $29K | $33K |
| Cedar Rapids | $24K | $27K |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $26K | $30K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa City, IA
Entry-level amusement and recreation attendants (10th percentile) start around $20K. Mid-career wages sit at $29K. Top earners bring in $49K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Amusement and Recreation Attendants pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Amusement and Recreation Attendants salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $46K | +42% | 340 |
| Hawaii | $40K | +24% | 3,950 |
| District of Columbia | $38K | +18% | 200 |
| Washington | $38K | +18% | 7,000 |
| California | $37K | +15% | 56,920 |
| Maryland | $37K | +14% | 9,200 |
| New York | $36K | +13% | 14,620 |
| Colorado | $36K | +11% | 10,820 |
| Oregon | $35K | +10% | 3,150 |
| Maine | $35K | +10% | 1,230 |
| Vermont | $35K | +10% | 800 |
| Connecticut | $35K | +8% | 2,440 |
| New Jersey | $35K | +7% | 14,060 |
| Massachusetts | $34K | +7% | 5,460 |
| Arizona | $34K | +4% | 6,930 |
| Illinois | $33K | +2% | 11,660 |
| Rhode Island | $31K | -3% | 760 |
| New Hampshire | $31K | -3% | 1,220 |
| Delaware | $31K | -3% | 1,360 |
| Virginia | $31K | -4% | 9,390 |
| Minnesota | $31K | -4% | 7,880 |
| Florida | $31K | -5% | 45,540 |
| Idaho | $31K | -5% | 2,010 |
| Wisconsin | $30K | -6% | 5,450 |
| Nebraska | $30K | -6% | 2,620 |
| Nevada | $30K | -7% | 7,680 |
| Missouri | $30K | -7% | 8,080 |
| South Dakota | $30K | -8% | 1,850 |
| Montana | $30K | -8% | 1,890 |
| New Mexico | $29K | -9% | 1,700 |
| Tennessee | $29K | -11% | 4,820 |
| Wyoming | $29K | -11% | 760 |
| Michigan | $29K | -11% | 11,720 |
| Pennsylvania | $28K | -13% | 17,470 |
| North Dakota | $28K | -13% | 1,430 |
| Utah | $28K | -13% | 6,960 |
| Indiana | $28K | -14% | 6,740 |
| Iowa | $27K | -15% | 5,050 |
| Kentucky | $27K | -15% | 3,190 |
| South Carolina | $27K | -16% | 8,740 |
| Ohio | $27K | -16% | 11,780 |
| Arkansas | $27K | -16% | 2,250 |
| North Carolina | $27K | -17% | 14,120 |
| Texas | $27K | -17% | 28,360 |
| Kansas | $26K | -18% | 4,240 |
| Georgia | $26K | -19% | 8,770 |
| West Virginia | $25K | -22% | 800 |
| Alabama | $23K | -28% | 6,740 |
| Mississippi | $23K | -28% | 2,400 |
| Louisiana | $23K | -29% | 2,850 |
| Oklahoma | $22K | -31% | 2,430 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track amusement and recreation attendants salary changes
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a amusement and recreation attendant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa City?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $29K, rent takes 48.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $962/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 City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new amusement and recreation attendants typically earn — is $20K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,457/month. At HUD’s $962/month FMR, rent would take 66% 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 City?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $29K locally vs. $32K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Iowa City compare to the national average for amusement and recreation attendants?
Iowa City pays $29K median vs. the U.S. average of $32K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.51), the purchasing-power equivalent is $32K — below the national median.
How much do amusement and recreation attendants make in Iowa City, IA?
The median is $28,870 a year, that works out to about $14 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $20,450, and experienced amusement and recreation attendants can clear $48,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $29K enough to live in Iowa City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,998/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $962/month, which eats 48.1% 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 City?
Iowa City has a Regional Price Parity of 91.51 (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 $31,548 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.