Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) — Average Employee Salary
The average employee in the motion picture theaters (except drive-ins) industry earns $19,903 per year ($9.57/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.
What Do Motion Picture Theaters Workers Earn?
At $19,903/year (equivalent to $9.57/hour for a full-time worker), motion picture theaters (except drive-ins) 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 motion picture theaters (except drive-ins) business employs 29 people. These are larger operations where staffing represents a major cost center and management complexity.
Wages as a Percentage of Revenue
For the average motion picture theaters (except drive-ins) business generating $1.8M/year with 29 employees at $19,903 each, total payroll represents roughly 31.6% of revenue. Labor is a significant cost but leaves room for other expenses and profit.
What This Means for Business Owners
If you're starting or running a motion picture theaters (except drive-ins)business, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:
- Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $25,874/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
- Typical team size: 29 employees = ~$577,187/year in base payroll.
- Hourly equivalent: $9.57/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
- Revenue needed: With average revenue of $1.8M/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 Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) revenue benchmarks →Frequently Asked Questions
- How much do motion picture theaters (except drive-ins) employees make?
- The average motion picture theaters (except drive-ins) employee earns $19,903 per year, which is equivalent to $9.57/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 motion picture theaters (except drive-ins) industry?
- The motion picture theaters (except drive-ins) industry employs 120,677 workers across 4,105 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 29 employees.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).