SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Plan, direct, or coordinate entertainment and recreational activities and operations of a recreational facility, including cruise ships and parks.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 11-9072.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $46,270 | $3,856 | $890 | $22.25 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $61,060 | $5,088 | $1,174 | $29.36 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $79,520 | $6,627 | $1,529 | $38.23 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $104,770 | $8,731 | $2,015 | $50.37 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $139,110 | $11,592 | $2,675 | $66.88 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling is $79,520, which is 56% higher. Among the 37 occupations of the field Management, it ranks number 31 by median pay. With 37,980 jobs, it makes up about 2.4 of every 10,000 jobs in the country. The average ($89,750) is well above the median, a sign that a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up.
Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling pay by state
The highest median pay was in District of Columbia ($113,930), Minnesota ($107,660) and New York ($98,390). The lowest was in Puerto Rico ($43,260), West Virginia ($47,310) and Arkansas ($49,640). The most jobs were in California (7,000), Illinois (3,260) and Texas (2,880). The occupation is most concentrated in Vermont, where its share of all jobs is 3.6 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 30 | $113,930 | $114,770 | $54.77 |
| Minnesota | 480 | $107,660 | $112,680 | $51.76 |
| New York | 1,330 | $98,390 | $105,760 | $47.31 |
| Colorado | 940 | $97,000 | $109,890 | $46.63 |
| Washington | 630 | $96,790 | $113,810 | $46.53 |
| Idaho | 110 | $95,020 | $91,770 | $45.68 |
| Vermont | 270 | $92,320 | $94,700 | $44.38 |
| New Jersey | 2,260 | $89,590 | $100,930 | $43.07 |
| Massachusetts | 1,030 | $89,450 | $94,620 | $43.01 |
| Wyoming | 70 | $88,790 | $92,620 | $42.69 |
| Rhode Island | 40 | $88,750 | $88,880 | $42.67 |
| Missouri | 370 | $83,620 | $88,010 | $40.20 |
| Florida | 2,620 | $83,520 | $98,230 | $40.15 |
| Georgia | 830 | $83,470 | $93,000 | $40.13 |
| Maine | 70 | $82,780 | $101,930 | $39.80 |
| Nevada | 410 | $82,370 | $89,080 | $39.60 |
| Maryland | 940 | $81,220 | $91,540 | $39.05 |
| Hawaii | 50 | $81,160 | $80,660 | $39.02 |
| Kentucky | 300 | $80,130 | $83,110 | $38.52 |
| New Hampshire | 170 | $80,090 | $87,100 | $38.51 |
| California | 7,000 | $79,550 | $98,270 | $38.25 |
| Utah | 370 | $79,400 | $83,850 | $38.17 |
| South Carolina | 440 | $79,110 | $88,130 | $38.04 |
| Texas | 2,880 | $78,500 | $83,640 | $37.74 |
| Oklahoma | 100 | $78,420 | $82,530 | $37.70 |
| Oregon | 930 | $78,200 | $84,790 | $37.60 |
| Connecticut | 130 | $78,010 | $84,560 | $37.50 |
| North Carolina | 1,200 | $77,990 | $86,430 | $37.49 |
| Illinois | 3,260 | $77,310 | $80,540 | $37.17 |
| Wisconsin | 170 | $77,140 | $93,690 | $37.09 |
| Arizona | 880 | $76,550 | $87,850 | $36.80 |
| South Dakota | 160 | $76,000 | $80,170 | $36.54 |
| Virginia | 310 | $74,800 | $88,960 | $35.96 |
| Alaska | 120 | $70,700 | $86,790 | $33.99 |
| Tennessee | 540 | $70,530 | $85,110 | $33.91 |
| Kansas | 100 | $69,990 | $75,760 | $33.65 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,220 | $68,990 | $74,160 | $33.17 |
| Iowa | 620 | $68,320 | $75,270 | $32.85 |
| Mississippi | 90 | $67,670 | $70,350 | $32.54 |
| Alabama | 190 | $66,540 | $68,790 | $31.99 |
| Michigan | 1,670 | $65,890 | $74,450 | $31.68 |
| Nebraska | 310 | $63,270 | $71,650 | $30.42 |
| Indiana | 340 | $62,760 | $72,740 | $30.17 |
| Louisiana | 90 | $62,390 | $64,690 | $30.00 |
| Ohio | 1,280 | $58,440 | $64,760 | $28.10 |
| Arkansas | 230 | $49,640 | $58,040 | $23.87 |
| West Virginia | 100 | $47,310 | $52,600 | $22.75 |
| Puerto Rico | 120 | $43,260 | $45,610 | $20.80 |
| New Mexico | 80 | not published | not published | not published |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Gambling Managers$93,220 a year
- Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers$89,900 a year
- Social and Community Service Managers$80,390 a year
- Funeral Home Managers$78,790 a year
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$69,990 a year
- Personal Service Managers, All Other$69,770 a year
Common questions
How much do Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling earn in the United States?
The median pay was $79,520 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $46,270 and the highest-paid 10% more than $139,110.
How many people work as Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling?
About 37,980 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.