🎢
Theme parks and attractions
Disney Experiences, Universal Destinations & Experiences, Six Flags
Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling
This job handles the business side of fun: staffing events, watching budgets, and keeping guests safe and satisfied in places like resorts, parks, arenas, and recreation centers. What makes the work distinct is the constant balancing act between guest experience and operational control, from schedules and equipment to rules and revenue. The tradeoff is that you are responsible for smooth, upbeat experiences while also dealing with complaints, weekend hours, and pressure when attendance or budgets change.
Also known as Recreation ManagerActivities ManagerLeisure Services ManagerRecreation Program ManagerParks and Recreation Manager
Median Salary
$77,180
Mean $87,060
U.S. Workforce
~37K
5.5K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+7.7%
43.2K to 46.5K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ Less than 5 years experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling sits in the Business category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~37K workers, with a median annual pay of $77,180 and roughly 5.5K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 43.2 K in 2024 to 46.5K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's Degree in Recreation Management, Hospitality, Business, or a related field, and employers typically expect less than 5 years of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Recreation Assistant and can progress toward Director of Recreation Services. High-value skills usually include Scheduling & Rostering Software, Microsoft Excel & Budget Tracking, and Event Management Systems & Ticketing Platforms, paired with soft skills such as Active listening, Speaking clearly, and Coordination.
Core Responsibilities
- Build staff schedules, assign shifts, and cover openings when someone is absent.
- Track department spending and income so the operation stays within budget.
- Explain facility rules, safety expectations, and activity guidelines to visitors.
- Recruit, interview, and hire new team members, then get them ready for the job.
Keep exploring: more Business careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Build staff schedules, assign shifts, and cover openings when someone is absent.
02 Track department spending and income so the operation stays within budget.
03 Explain facility rules, safety expectations, and activity guidelines to visitors.
04 Recruit, interview, and hire new team members, then get them ready for the job.
05 Plan calendars for classes, outings, performances, and other activities.
06 Keep equipment organized, stored, and ready to use, including radios, vehicles, and ride parts.
Industries That Hire
🏨
Hotels and resorts
Marriott Vacations Worldwide, Hilton Grand Vacations, Club Med
🏋️
Fitness and recreation centers
Life Time, Equinox, YMCA
🏛️
Local government parks and recreation
NYC Parks, Chicago Park District, Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks
🖼️
Museums, zoos, and cultural attractions
Smithsonian, Shedd Aquarium, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Pros and Cons
Advantages
+
The pay is solid for a management role, with a median annual wage of $77,180 and a mean of $87,060.
+
Projected employment growth is 7.7% by 2034, which adds about 3.3 thousand jobs.
+
Annual openings are expected to average 5.5 thousand, so hiring should stay fairly active.
+
The work is varied: one day you may be scheduling staff, the next you are handling a complaint, budget report, or event plan.
+
BLS says the typical entry point is a bachelor's degree, less than 5 years of experience, and no on-the-job training, so the path is fairly direct.
Challenges
-
The salary ceiling is modest compared with many other management jobs, since the mean wage is only $87,060.
-
Growth is steady but not explosive at 7.7%, so advancement often depends on replacing managers rather than huge job expansion.
-
Evening, weekend, and holiday work is common because recreation and entertainment businesses are busiest when customers are off work.
-
The job can be tied to tourism, weather, attendance, and local budgets, so staffing and hours can swing when demand drops.
-
Smaller venues often have a flat career ladder, and the routine scheduling, ticketing, and inventory work is increasingly standardized in software.
Career Progression
Recreation Assistant
0-2 years
$32K-$42K
Supports programs, sets up spaces and equipment, and learns how busy facilities run day to day.
Recreation Supervisor
2-5 years
$42K-$58K
Leads a shift or program area, solves routine problems, and keeps staff and guests moving through the schedule.
Entertainment and Recreation Manager THIS ROLE
5-10 years
$65K-$89K
Runs the department's staffing, events, service standards, and budget while handling customer issues and compliance.
Senior Recreation Operations Manager
10-15 years
$90K-$115K
Oversees multiple programs or locations, standardizes operations, and handles larger budgets and staffing decisions.
Director of Recreation Services
15+ years
$116K-$145K
Sets strategy across a large venue or system, manages senior staff, and makes decisions about growth, service, and investment.
Education Paths
Bachelor's Degree in Recreation Management, Hospitality, Business, or a related field
The most common entry point, held by 52.12% of workers in this role.
Some College Courses with Strong Front-Line Experience
A practical alternative for people who built up experience first; 23.06% of workers report some college courses.
Associate's Degree in Recreation, Hospitality, or Business
A shorter college route that still shows up for 16.79% of workers.
Recreation, Hospitality, or Event-Management Certificate
A useful alternative for workers who already have customer-service or supervisory experience and want to move into larger responsibilities.
Key Skills
Technical
Scheduling & Rostering Software 75%
Microsoft Excel & Budget Tracking 74%
Event Management Systems & Ticketing Platforms 73%
Inventory, Asset & Equipment Tracking Systems 71%
POS, Cash Handling & Revenue Reporting Systems 70%
Soft Skills
Active listeningSpeaking clearlyCoordinationCritical thinkingService orientationJudgment and decision making Job Outlook and Trends
+7.7%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
5.5K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 43.2K to 46.5 K over the next decade, representing 7.7% growth. Around 5.5 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.