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Sector

Careers in Theme Parks & Attractions

Theme parks and attractions create immersive entertainment experiences โ€” from major destination parks to regional attractions. Work is entirely on-site with seasonal patterns that drive staffing needs.

210K
U.S. jobs
In this sector
$37K
Median salary
Across all roles
Theme Parks & Attractions jobs by metro area
Bubble size = total employment
Theme Parks & Attractions employment by metro ยท ~393 areas
1.New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ4K
2.Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA4K
3.Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL2K
4.Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN2K
5.Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX2K

Jobs per 100K workforce โ€” measures industry density

1.Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL177.4
2.Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC159.2
3.Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC136.6
4.Sandusky, OH131.7
5.Kahului-Wailuku, HI118.3
BLS OEWS May 2024
Understanding this Sector
What it's like to work in Theme Parks & Attractions

Theme parks and attractions draw people who enjoy creating memorable experiences โ€” there's satisfaction in guest happiness, the energy of busy parks, and being part of entertainment destinations. Many find meaning in hospitality within immersive environments.

The challenge can come from seasonal demands and physical requirements. Parks are busiest when others are off โ€” summers, holidays, weekends. The work involves being on your feet, outdoors in weather, and maintaining enthusiasm through long shifts. Entry-level pay is often modest.

The field varies by role and park scale. Operations differs from entertainment, food service, or maintenance. Major destination parks operate differently than regional attractions or water parks. Seasonal parks have different employment patterns than year-round properties.

For those who thrive here, the rewards are genuine: guest interactions, themed environments, park culture and perks, and being part of memorable experiences. If you enjoy hospitality, don't mind the physical demands and schedules, theme parks offer unique entertainment careers.

How people break in

Seasonal positions are accessible. Entertainment roles through auditions. Technical and corporate roles through relevant experience or education.

Work environment tends toward
Seasonal staffingGuest experienceEntertainment focusMajor employersPhysical work
Industries it connects to
EntertainmentHospitalityRetailReal Estate
Salary vs. national average
-48%
$37K median vs. $71K national
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0K$15K$36K$150K$239K*387 metro areas across 50 states, sorted by salary level โ†’
Salary range across all theme parks & attractions roles
Where your dollar goes furthest
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$88K
2. Boulder$74K
3. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$70K
4. Trenton-Princeton$68K
5. Durham-Chapel Hill$67K
BLS OEWS May 2024
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.

Median salaries range from ~$68K in mid-market metros to ~$99K in top-tier cities. But cost of living closes a lot of that gap โ€” metros with lower regional price parities often offer the best purchasing power.

Highest paying
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $99K
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ยท $84K
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $76K
Best purchasing power
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $88K adj.
Boulder ยท $74K adj.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $70K adj.
Most jobs
New York ยท 22.6M
Los Angeles ยท 15M
Chicago ยท 11.2M
BLS OEWS May 2024 ยท BEA Regional Price Parities

What the data says about this sector

Beyond salary and job counts โ€” signals that shape the day-to-day experience of working in Theme Parks & Attractions.

๐Ÿšช
Annual Quit Rate
Based on all Entertainment & Media data
29%
Higher than average turnover. This could indicate challenging conditions, seasonal work, or abundant external opportunities.
โ†‘ 7%vs. 22% all industries
๐Ÿข
Typical Employer Size
Small-skewed
Small businesses dominate. More variety in roles but less formal structure and benefits.
85%
Small
<50
13%
Mid
50โ€“249
2%
Large
250+
๐Ÿ 
Remote / Hybrid Prevalence
Mostly on-site
Many roles can be done remotely. Location flexibility is a realistic expectation.
Mostly on-siteHybrid commonRemote-first
๐Ÿ“‹
Credential Density
Moderate
Most roles don't require formal credentials. Skills and experience matter more than certificates.
Few credentialsSome requiredMany required
๐Ÿค
Union Presence
Based on all Entertainment & Media data
~6%
Minimal union coverage means compensation is individually negotiated. Know your market rate going in.
โ†“ 6%vs. 11% all industries
BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Union Members Summary 2024
Career Tracks

Career tracks in Theme Parks & Attractions

How jobs in this sector break down by function, and what they typically pay.

Transportation
12%
$32K median
Explore โ†’
Personal Care
11%
$34K median
Explore โ†’
Sales
10%
$34K median
Explore โ†’
Food Service ยท Stadium concessions, theme parks, and entertainment venues. High volume, event-driven, unique environments. Seasonal management opportunities.
10%
$31K median
Explore โ†’
Admin & Office
9%
$33K median
Explore โ†’
Arts & Media
8%
$36K median
Explore โ†’
Median salary for occupations employed within Theme Parks & Attractions. BLS OEWS May 2024.

Explore careers in Theme Parks & Attractions

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) ยท BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034
Truest editorial: Industry narrative, sector context, career track mapping, working signals analysis.