Best-Paying Jobs in Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (May 2025 BLS Wage Data)
- The median wage across all jobs in arts, entertainment, and recreation was $38,640 in May 2025, below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
- The sector employed about 2,765,320 wage and salary workers.
- Its best-paid large occupation was financial managers, at a median of $145,880.
Pay depends on what you do and on who you do it for. This breakdown uses the BLS OEWS industry data, May 2025 (NAICS sector 71: Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation) to show which jobs pay best in arts, entertainment and recreation, which jobs are open to people without a four-year degree, and what the most common jobs pay. Education levels come from BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Highest-paying jobs in the sector
Occupations with at least 5,000 jobs in the sector, ranked by median annual wage. The last column is the median for the same job across all industries (from the national cross-industry estimates).
| Occupation | Sector median | Jobs in sector | All-industry median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Managers | $145,880 | 6,240 | $166,570 |
| Marketing Managers | $109,990 | 7,000 | $166,790 |
| Sales Managers | $95,810 | 5,670 | $148,270 |
| Facilities Managers | $95,360 | 8,960 | $106,660 |
| Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes | $88,100 | 11,270 | $82,890 |
| Food Service Managers | $80,880 | 6,360 | $69,390 |
| General and Operations Managers | $80,520 | 84,980 | $105,770 |
| Music Directors and Composers | $79,730 | 5,360 | $73,710 |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $77,460 | 18,550 | $79,520 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,990 | 15,550 | $83,680 |
Best-paying jobs here without a bachelor’s degree
Occupations where BLS lists a high school diploma, certificate, some college or an associate’s degree as typical for entry:
| Occupation | Sector median | Jobs in sector | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food Service Managers | $80,880 | 6,360 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $73,530 | 5,930 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $72,480 | 12,640 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $70,960 | 9,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Athletes and Sports Competitors | $67,020 | 14,750 | No formal educational credential |
| First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers | $62,350 | 10,830 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers | $62,100 | 12,010 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $54,050 | 18,810 | High school diploma or equivalent |
The most common jobs in the sector
| Occupation | Median | Jobs | Share of sector jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $31,200 | 298,210 | 10.78% |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $48,020 | 219,050 | 7.92% |
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | $36,360 | 102,690 | 3.71% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,190 | 97,670 | 3.53% |
| General and Operations Managers | $80,520 | 84,980 | 3.07% |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $31,960 | 68,770 | 2.49% |
| Coaches and Scouts | $48,450 | 64,620 | 2.34% |
| Customer Service Representatives | $34,920 | 63,630 | 2.3% |
What this means for your pay
- Same job, different industry, different pay. Compare the sector median with the all-industry median for your job. If your sector pays below the national figure, the same skills may earn more elsewhere.
- Medians, not starting pay. Half of workers earn more than the median and half less; new hires usually start lower.
- Base wages only. OEWS excludes overtime, tips and most bonuses, so jobs with heavy overtime often pay more in practice.
Published October 28, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Header image: original chart by JobPayRaise.com using BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
Comments (1)
For contrast, from the same survey: the lowest-paid occupation in this sector with at least 20,000 jobs was childcare workers, at a median of $29,210 ($14.04 an hour) across 30,480 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS industry data, May 2025.
— JobPayRaise Data Desk