SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Operate table games. Stand or sit behind table and operate games of chance by dispensing the appropriate number of cards or blocks to players, or operating other gambling equipment. Distribute winnings or collect players’ money or chips. May compare the house’s hand against players’ hands.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 39-3011.
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 | $24,040 | $2,003 | $462 | $11.56 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $25,810 | $2,151 | $496 | $12.41 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $34,320 | $2,860 | $660 | $16.50 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $49,180 | $4,098 | $946 | $23.65 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $77,090 | $6,424 | $1,482 | $37.06 |
* 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 Gambling Dealers is $34,320, which is 33% lower. Among the 32 occupations of the field Personal Care and Service, it ranks number 28 by median pay. With 83,910 jobs, it makes up about 5.4 of every 10,000 jobs in the country. The average ($42,550) is well above the median, a sign that a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up.
Gambling Dealers pay by state
The highest median pay was in Oregon ($62,230), Wisconsin ($61,670) and Arizona ($60,940). The lowest was in Louisiana ($17,760), Georgia ($21,430) and Montana ($21,940). The most jobs were in Nevada (17,390), California (15,050) and Florida (5,370). The occupation is most concentrated in Nevada, where its share of all jobs is 20.8 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 350 | $62,230 | $52,990 | $29.92 |
| Wisconsin | 630 | $61,670 | $48,320 | $29.65 |
| Arizona | 1,680 | $60,940 | $70,590 | $29.30 |
| Washington | 4,370 | $58,700 | $69,630 | $28.22 |
| New York | 2,010 | $50,860 | $47,100 | $24.45 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,970 | $48,230 | $51,010 | $23.19 |
| Ohio | 640 | $40,710 | $45,640 | $19.57 |
| Delaware | 270 | $39,330 | $40,060 | $18.91 |
| Florida | 5,370 | $38,500 | $53,150 | $18.51 |
| New Mexico | 370 | $36,990 | $40,600 | $17.78 |
| South Dakota | 170 | $36,190 | $37,040 | $17.40 |
| California | 15,050 | $35,090 | $41,140 | $16.87 |
| New Jersey | 3,030 | $33,000 | $43,760 | $15.87 |
| New Hampshire | 460 | $32,100 | $46,410 | $15.43 |
| Maryland | 1,770 | $31,740 | $39,950 | $15.26 |
| Illinois | 2,470 | $31,200 | $36,780 | $15.00 |
| Colorado | 870 | $30,800 | $44,620 | $14.81 |
| Michigan | 2,510 | $29,120 | $40,870 | $14.00 |
| Missouri | 1,160 | $28,600 | $40,510 | $13.75 |
| Arkansas | 360 | $28,380 | $31,750 | $13.65 |
| Mississippi | 2,730 | $28,250 | $39,750 | $13.58 |
| North Dakota | 900 | $27,370 | $32,050 | $13.16 |
| South Carolina | 140 | $27,350 | $25,820 | $13.15 |
| Minnesota | 1,370 | $27,190 | $35,340 | $13.07 |
| Virginia | not published | $26,170 | $37,520 | $12.58 |
| Nevada | 17,390 | $25,690 | $35,510 | $12.35 |
| West Virginia | 610 | $25,100 | $35,440 | $12.07 |
| Texas | 560 | $25,090 | $28,930 | $12.06 |
| Indiana | 2,410 | $24,160 | $38,130 | $11.61 |
| Oklahoma | 1,980 | $23,720 | $24,440 | $11.40 |
| Iowa | 970 | $23,020 | $34,680 | $11.07 |
| Puerto Rico | 720 | $22,930 | $23,940 | $11.02 |
| Montana | not published | $21,940 | $22,110 | $10.55 |
| Georgia | not published | $21,430 | $27,490 | $10.31 |
| Louisiana | 2,650 | $17,760 | $35,070 | $8.54 |
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
- Animal Caretakers$35,360 a year
- Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners$34,980 a year
- Childcare Workers$34,980 a year
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$32,910 a year
- Entertainment Attendants and Related Workers, All Other$32,640 a year
- Shampooers$32,600 a year
Common questions
How much do Gambling Dealers earn in the United States?
The median pay was $34,320 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $24,040 and the highest-paid 10% more than $77,090.
How many people work as Gambling Dealers?
About 83,910 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.