# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/entertainment-and-recreation-managers-except-gambling
- SOC code: 11-9072.00
- Career family: Management
- Median annual pay: $79,520 (10th percentile $46,270, 90th percentile $139,110)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +6.0%
- Openings a year: 5,100
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code ECS)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 39 |
| Investigative (I) | 16 |
| Artistic (A) | 16 |
| Social (S) | 49 |
| Enterprising (E) | 88 |
| Conventional (C) | 67 |

## What you'd do

- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 95/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 89/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 83/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 82/100)
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others (importance 82/100)
- Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates (importance 81/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 81/100)
- Training and Teaching Others (importance 81/100)
- Getting Information (importance 81/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 80/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, Coordination, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, Time Management, Instructing

## Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service, Education and Training, English Language, Public Safety and Security, Administration and Management, Personnel and Human Resources, Psychology, Administrative, Mathematics, Sales and Marketing

## Also called

Activities Manager, Amusement Park Manager, Aquatic Program Manager, Aquatics Director, Aquatics Manager, Boat Club Manager, Camp Director, Club Director, Club Manager, Entertainment and Recreation GM (Entertainment and Recreation General Manager)

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Business Administration, Management and Operations](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5202) (CIP 5202, 2,372 colleges)
- [Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3105) (CIP 3105, 1,394 colleges)
- [Business/Commerce, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5201) (CIP 5201, 975 colleges)
- [Hospitality Administration/Management](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5209) (CIP 5209, 641 colleges)
- [Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0302) (CIP 0302, 204 colleges)
- [Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3103) (CIP 3103, 169 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $97,419 | $160,783 | $19,000 |
| [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor-main-campus-2956) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $96,806 | $144,654 | $19,500 |
| [University of California-Berkeley CAL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $94,811 | $144,599 | $10,656 |
| [University of Pennsylvania UPENN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pennsylvania-upenn-3009) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $108,743 | $136,806 | $19,250 |
| [Emory University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/emory-university-main-campus-916) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $87,830 | $136,731 | $15,000 |
| [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill-main-campus-2990) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $88,182 | $135,874 | $9,250 |
| [Baylor University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/baylor-university-194) | Business/Commerce, General | $75,807 | $124,434 | $12,000 |
| [Boston College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/boston-college-285) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $75,464 | $123,144 | $18,625 |

## Related careers

- [Recreation Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/recreation-workers): $36,560 median pay
- [Fitness and Wellness Coordinators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/fitness-and-wellness-coordinators): $69,770 median pay
- [Recreational Therapists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/recreational-therapists): $61,960 median pay
- [Park Naturalists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/park-naturalists): $73,010 median pay
- [General and Operations Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/general-and-operations-managers): $105,770 median pay
- [Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/recreation-and-fitness-studies-teachers-postsecondary): $77,270 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.