Amusement and Theme Parks — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the amusement and theme parks industry earns $36,015 per year ($17.31/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$36,015
Avg Annual Pay
203,361
Total Employees
1,273
Total Establishments
160
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Amusement and Theme Parks Workers Earn?

At $36,015/year (equivalent to $17.31/hour for a full-time worker), amusement and theme parks 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 and theme parks business employs 160 people. These are larger operations where staffing represents a major cost center and management complexity.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

28.5%

For the average amusement and theme parks business generating $20.2M/year with 160 employees at $36,015 each, total payroll represents roughly 28.5% 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 and theme parksbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $46,820/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 160 employees = ~$5,762,400/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $17.31/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $20.2M/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 and Theme Parks revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do amusement and theme parks employees make?
The average amusement and theme parks employee earns $36,015 per year, which is equivalent to $17.31/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 and theme parks industry?
The amusement and theme parks industry employs 203,361 workers across 1,273 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 160 employees.

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