Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
Less than 5 years
None
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services oversee teams that deliver recreation and entertainment experiences. Nationally, this occupation employs about 123,000 people, indicating a sizable field with varied work settings. With a national median annual salary of $46,900 and projected employment growth of 6.3%, it offers both current opportunities and anticipated expansion. Around 13,000 annual openings suggest ongoing hiring needs from both growth and turnover. The career relies on a blend of people-focused and management-focused strengths, including leadership, customer service, adaptability, and project management. Strong interpersonal, speaking and listening, and problem-solving skills are also central, along with creativity and attention to detail. For those interested in supervisory roles connected to recreation and entertainment, this occupation can provide a path into management and coordination work. Individuals considering related career paths may also explore other supervisory or protective service roles, such as first-line supervisors of personal service workers or various law enforcement occupations.
The national median annual salary for first-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services is $46,900. Earnings vary across locations, with some states and metro areas offering higher median pay. Among the top states by opportunity score, Washington shows a median salary of $62,900, Colorado $58,640, Massachusetts $56,990, California $53,620, and New York $51,320. At the metro level, several areas stand out for higher pay: San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA has a median salary of $65,820, Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH $58,000, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA $57,040, New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ $54,530, and Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV $49,300. These figures show that earnings can differ significantly by region, so individuals may want to factor geographic pay differences into their career and relocation decisions.
First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services have a national employment level of about 123,000 workers. The projected employment growth rate of 6.3% indicates that the number of positions is expected to increase. In addition, there are about 13,000 annual openings, which reflect both new jobs from growth and replacement of workers who leave or move into other roles. This combination of a defined employment base, measurable projected growth, and regular openings suggests ongoing opportunities for new entrants and experienced workers seeking advancement or change. The same 6.3% projected growth figure is also reported in key states and metro areas, indicating a consistent growth outlook in many locations identified with strong opportunity scores. Individuals who build the core skills for this occupation—such as leadership, customer service, and problem solving—may be well-positioned to pursue these openings over the coming years.
Geography plays a significant role in opportunities for first-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services. Among states, California ranks highly by opportunity score (67.38), with 13,620 employed and a median salary of $53,620. Massachusetts and New York also show strong opportunity scores (65.87 and 65.78) and median salaries of $56,990 and $51,320, respectively. Colorado and Washington present higher median pay—$58,640 and $62,900—with opportunity scores above 56, highlighting additional options for candidates considering those regions. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA and New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ stand out with the highest opportunity scores (77.42 and 77.27). San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA combines an opportunity score of 68.75 with a median salary of $65,820, the highest among listed metros. Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH and Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV also offer notable opportunity scores and sizable employment levels, giving job seekers several distinct regional choices.
The typical education requirement for first-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services is a high school diploma or equivalent. This creates a pathway into supervisory roles without the need for a higher formal degree, while still demanding a strong combination of personal and professional skills. Leadership is central in this occupation, as supervisors guide entertainment and recreation workers and coordinate daily activities. Customer service, interpersonal skills, and speaking and listening abilities help in working effectively with both staff and the public. Problem solving and decision making, along with critical and analytical thinking, support sound judgments in dynamic situations. Adaptability and creativity and innovation are also important, reflecting the changing and experience-focused nature of entertainment and recreation environments. Being detail oriented and having project management skills help with organizing schedules, resources, and events. Together, these skills form the core competency profile for someone pursuing or advancing in this supervisory career path.
Use CareerGPS Pro to compare markets, understand the tradeoffs, and focus on the places with the strongest potential.
