Management · Holland code ECS
Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling
Plan, direct, or coordinate entertainment and recreational activities and operations of a recreational facility, including cruise ships and parks.
Also called: Camp Director, Events Manager, Recreation Director, Recreation Manager, Aquatic Program Manager, Golf Course Manager, Ice Arena Director, Park Manager.
O*NET 11-9072.00
At a glance
- US median annual pay
- $79,520
- Middle half earn $61,060 to $104,770. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
- Preparation needed
- Job Zone 4 of 5
- Considerable preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.
- US employment outlook, 2024 to 2034
- +8% · Much faster than average
- 43,200 jobs in 2024, projected 46,500. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, which groups this with similar roles as "Entertainment and recreation managers".
What the work involves
The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.
- Write budgets to plan recreational activities or programs.
- Talk to coworkers using electronic devices, such as computers and radios.
- Talk to customers to convey information about events or activities.
- Plan programs of events or schedules of activities.
- Explain rules and regulations of facilities and entertainment attractions to customers.
- Calculate and record department expenses and revenue.
- Inspect equipment, such as rides, games, and vehicles, to detect wear and damage.
- Interview and hire associates to fill staff vacancies.
Skills and knowledge it leans on
Skills
- Reading Comprehension3.9 / 5
- Active Listening3.9 / 5
- Speaking3.9 / 5
- Critical Thinking3.8 / 5
- Monitoring3.8 / 5
- Writing3.5 / 5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.6 / 5
- Education and Training3.9 / 5
- English Language3.9 / 5
- Public Safety and Security3.7 / 5
- Administration and Management3.6 / 5
- Personnel and Human Resources3.2 / 5
Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.
Who tends to enjoy it
How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.
- Realistic39
- Investigative16
- Artistic16
- Social49
- Enterprising88
- Conventional67
The same work abroad
Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.
European occupation titles (ESCO)
- hospitality entertainment manager · DE Bewirtungsmanager/Bewirtungsmanagerin · FR responsable des loisirs
- cultural facilities manager · DE Kulturmanager/Kulturmanagerin · FR directeur de salle de spectacles/directrice de salle de spectacles
- cultural centre director · DE Kulturdirektor/Kulturdirektorin · FR directeur de centre culturel/directrice de centre culturel
- recreational facilities manager · DE Leiter einer Freizeiteinrichtung/Leiterin einer Freizeiteinrichtung · FR directeur d'équipement de loisirs/directrice d'équipement de loisirs
- gambling manager · DE Leiter einer Glücksspieleinrichtung/Leiterin einer Glücksspieleinrichtung · FR directeur des jeux/directrice des jeux
- sport facility manager · DE Leiter einer Sporteinrichtung/Leiterin einer Sporteinrichtung · FR directeur d'équipement sportif/directrice d'équipement sportif
Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)
- Betting shop and gambling establishment managers (1256)8,700 employed
- Travel agency managers and proprietors (1225)10,400 employed
- Garage managers and proprietors (1252)17,700 employed
Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.
Pay across Europe, for the whole group
Median annual earnings of all employees in “Managers”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.
| Country | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Belgium | €96,629 |
| Italy | €96,052 |
| Germany | €90,192 |
| Austria | €82,936 |
| Netherlands | €69,857 |
| Sweden | €60,369 |
| France | €58,740 |
| Ireland | €55,854 |
| Spain | €54,121 |
| Portugal | €39,189 |
| Poland | €19,596 |
Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.
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