Amusement and Theme Parks Revenue Benchmarks
The average amusement and theme parks business in the United States generates $20.2M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 536 amusement and theme parks businesses in the U.S., employing 135,919 workers with an average profit margin of 12.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $36K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Amusement and Theme Parks Business Actually Do?
Theme parks (Disney, Universal, Six Flags, Cedar Fair) and regional amusement parks. Multi-day tourist destinations plus regional day-trip venues.
Who buys: Families, tourists, season pass holders.
Average Revenue
$20.2M
per year
Profit Margin
12.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$80K
per year
Total Businesses
536
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$2.4M
small business avg
Labor Cost
40.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$36K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.2
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Amusement and Theme Parks Charge?
Theme parks earn on gate admissions, food, merchandise, and (Disney model) hotel/vacation packages.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Small park daily ticket | $30–70 |
Mid-size theme park | $60–100 |
Major park (Disney, Universal) | $100–200 |
Season pass | $150–1,500 |
In-park food/merch per capita | $40–80 |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete amusement and theme parks business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a amusement and theme parks 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 and theme parks 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 | $2.9M | Talent fees, equipment rentals, production supplies, licensing/royalties. |
Wages & benefits | $40 | $8.1M | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $10 | $1.9M | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $5 | $969K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $19 | $3.9M | Insurance, ticketing fees, venue maintenance, security. |
Net profit | $12 | $2.4M | 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 and Theme Parks Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
1 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a amusement and theme parks business do?
- Theme parks (Disney, Universal, Six Flags, Cedar Fair) and regional amusement parks. Multi-day tourist destinations plus regional day-trip venues. Families, tourists, season pass holders.
- How much do amusement and theme parks charge?
- Theme parks earn on gate admissions, food, merchandise, and (Disney model) hotel/vacation packages. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average amusement and theme parks make per year?
- The average amusement and theme parks business generates $20.2M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $2.4M per year at a 12.0% profit margin.
- How many amusement and theme parks businesses are there in the US?
- There are 536 amusement and theme parks businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 135,919 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a amusement and theme parks business?
- Startup costs for a amusement and theme parks business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the amusement and theme parks industry?
- The average employee in the amusement and theme parks industry earns $36K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The amusement and theme parks 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 and theme parks 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 and theme parks industry earns $36,015/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for this sector. With 1,273 establishments employing 203,361 people, the typical business has about 160 employees. These tend to be larger operations requiring significant staffing investment.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The amusement and theme parks industry has grown 85% since 2000 (from 1,627 to 3,018 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Amusement and Theme Parks revenue with other industries: