Amusement Arcades Revenue Benchmarks
The average amusement arcades business in the United States generates $974K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 2,764 amusement arcades businesses in the U.S., employing 42,760 workers with an average profit margin of 12.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $24K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Amusement Arcades Business Actually Do?
Arcades and family entertainment centers with games, redemption tickets, and often food. Modern format is FEC (Dave & Buster's, Chuck E. Cheese, Round1).
Who buys: Families with kids, groups celebrating birthdays, casual entertainment seekers.
Average Revenue
$974K
per year
Profit Margin
12.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$63K
per year
Total Businesses
2,764
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$117K
small business avg
Labor Cost
40.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$24K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.8
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Amusement Arcades Charge?
Arcades earn on per-play (tokens/cards) plus food & beverage and prize redemption.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Per-play token (typical) | $0.50–2.00 |
All-day pass | $25–65 |
Redemption prize revenue | 10–25% of arcade revenue |
F&B revenue mix | 20–40% of total |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete amusement arcades business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a amusement arcades business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the amusement arcades industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Production & performer costs | $14 | $140K | Talent fees, equipment rentals, production supplies, licensing/royalties. |
Wages & benefits | $40 | $389K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $10 | $93K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $5 | $47K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $19 | $187K | Insurance, ticketing fees, venue maintenance, security. |
Net profit | $12 | $117K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
15.44%
openings/year
Closure Rate
10.75%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+0.18%
annual
Businesses Closed
336
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Amusement Arcades Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
15 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a amusement arcades business do?
- Arcades and family entertainment centers with games, redemption tickets, and often food. Modern format is FEC (Dave & Buster's, Chuck E. Cheese, Round1). Families with kids, groups celebrating birthdays, casual entertainment seekers.
- How much do amusement arcades charge?
- Arcades earn on per-play (tokens/cards) plus food & beverage and prize redemption. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average amusement arcades make per year?
- The average amusement arcades business generates $974K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $117K per year at a 12.0% profit margin.
- How many amusement arcades businesses are there in the US?
- There are 2,764 amusement arcades businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 42,760 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a amusement arcades business?
- Startup costs for a amusement arcades business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the amusement arcades industry?
- The average employee in the amusement arcades industry earns $24K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The amusement arcades industry is relatively stable — with a net job growth rate of 0.2%. Entry and exit rates are balanced at 15.4% and 10.7% respectively.
Approximately 57% of amusement arcades businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 336 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the amusement arcades industry earns $23,540/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for this sector. With 2,751 establishments employing 32,542 people, the typical business has about 12 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The amusement arcades industry has grown 85% since 2000 (from 1,627 to 3,018 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Amusement Arcades revenue with other industries: