Amusement Arcades — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the amusement arcades industry earns $23,540 per year ($11.32/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$23,540
Avg Annual Pay
32,542
Total Employees
2,751
Total Establishments
12
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Amusement Arcades Workers Earn?

At $23,540/year (equivalent to $11.32/hour for a full-time worker), amusement arcades wages are below the national average of ~$65,000.

Lower wages in this industry are common in service-oriented or retail-adjacent sectors where entry barriers are lower. This can be an advantage for business owners managing payroll costs, but may contribute to higher turnover.

The typical amusement arcades business employs 12 people. These are mid-sized operations where payroll is a significant but manageable expense.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

29.0%

For the average amusement arcades business generating $974K/year with 12 employees at $23,540 each, total payroll represents roughly 29.0% of revenue. Labor costs are relatively low compared to revenue — other costs (materials, equipment, overhead) dominate.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a amusement arcadesbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $30,602/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 12 employees = ~$282,480/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $11.32/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $974K/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.

View full Amusement Arcades revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do amusement arcades employees make?
The average amusement arcades employee earns $23,540 per year, which is equivalent to $11.32/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is below the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the amusement arcades industry?
The amusement arcades industry employs 32,542 workers across 2,751 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 12 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).