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Casino manager: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $55,960lowest 10% earn less
- $72,57025th percentile
- $93,220median
- $122,99075th percentile
- $164,350top 10% earn more
The median casino manager earned $93,220 a year in May 2025, well above the median for all occupations[1][2]. Jobs are projected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations[3][4].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +3.6%[3]
- Openings per year
- 600[6]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[7]
How much do casino managers make?
The median wage for gambling managers, the BLS title for casino managers, was $93,220 a year in May 2025[1]. That works out to $44.82 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $103,050 a year, or $49.54 an hour[8]. For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[2].
Pay varies a lot across the range:
| Point in the range | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile[5][9] | $55,960 | $26.90 |
| 25th percentile[5][9] | $72,570 | $34.89 |
| Median[1] | $93,220 | $44.82 |
| 75th percentile[5][9] | $122,990 | $59.13 |
| 90th percentile[5][9] | $164,350 | $79.01 |
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $55,960 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $164,350[5]. A percentile is a boundary line in the pay data. BLS publishes percentiles and the median, not a starting salary[10].
These figures cover people paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11]. About 5,030 people worked as gambling managers in wage and salary jobs in May 2025[12].
Pay by state and city
BLS published median pay for 27 states[13]. Texas had the highest median at $106,670, followed by Washington at $106,450 and Kentucky at $105,340[13]. Texas had 60 jobs in the data[13]. Nebraska had the lowest published median, $61,360[13].
The jobs are concentrated in a few places. Nevada had the most gambling manager jobs with 790, then California with 620 and Illinois with 310[14]. Nevada's median was $91,250, and California's was $99,230[13].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI had the highest median at $101,930, followed by Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ at $101,470[15]. The Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV area had the most jobs, 560, with a median of $94,580[16].
Show median pay in 27 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Texas[13] | $106,670 | 60 |
| Washington | $106,450 | 130 |
| Kentucky | $105,340 | 30 |
| New York | $102,350 | 180 |
| Michigan | $101,860 | 190 |
| New Jersey | $101,470 | 130 |
| New Mexico | $101,260 | 70 |
| Massachusetts | $100,460 | 40 |
| Ohio | $99,650 | 110 |
| California | $99,230 | 620 |
| Indiana | $98,920 | 110 |
| Mississippi | $97,170 | 160 |
| Florida | $96,180 | 230 |
| Pennsylvania | $94,800 | 170 |
| Nevada | $91,250 | 790 |
| Missouri | $85,630 | 70 |
| Arizona | $82,840 | 220 |
| Louisiana | $82,140 | 240 |
| Illinois | $79,610 | 310 |
| North Dakota | $79,300 | 30 |
| Arkansas | $77,860 | 50 |
| Oklahoma | $77,380 | 220 |
| Minnesota | $77,360 | n/a |
| Maryland | $77,320 | 180 |
| Iowa | $76,350 | 100 |
| West Virginia | $74,270 | 50 |
| Nebraska | $61,360 | 40 |
How to become a casino manager
The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile that covers this job also covers other gambling workers, so some training details below describe the wider group[17].
- First: Get a high school diploma or equivalent. BLS lists it as the typical education needed for entry[7].
- Next: Check what your employer asks for. Requirements differ by establishment. Some employers want some college or a degree, and a degree might be in casino management, hotel management or hospitality, with business courses[18]. In an O*NET survey of 27 workers, 57% said a high school diploma or equivalent was required, 30% said some college courses, 7% a post-secondary certificate and 7% a bachelor's degree[19].
- Then: Build experience in a casino. BLS projections list less than 5 years of related work experience[7]. The handbook says managers usually have several years in a casino or similar business, often as a dealer or in customer outreach[20].
- Then: Move up. Managers are often promoted from slot supervisor or table games supervisor jobs. Some move over from a management job in another part of the establishment, such as hospitality[21][22].
A state regulatory agency, such as a casino control board or gambling commission, licenses gambling workers[23]. Rules for management jobs may differ from those for other gambling jobs. Every candidate must show photo identification and pay a fee. Candidates also typically face an extensive background check and a drug test, and failing the background check can block a license or a job[23]. Age rules vary by state, so check the state gambling commission website[24].
BLS projections list no typical on-the-job training for this job[7]. The handbook says each casino sets its own training requirements[25].
What casino managers do
O*NET describes the job as planning, directing or coordinating gambling operations in a casino. It may include setting house rules[26]. Common job titles include pit manager, slot manager and casino shift manager[27]. Tasks include:
- Resolving customer complaints, such as payout errors[28]
- Removing suspected cheaters, such as card counters[28]
- Tracking the money supplied to tables and doing the paperwork[28]
- Explaining house rules, such as game rules and betting limits[28]
- Making work schedules and keeping attendance records[28]
- Watching staffing levels so each shift has enough workers, and arranging breaks and substitutes[28]
- Training new workers and evaluating their performance[28]
- Promoting the casino and hiring staff[28]
Where they work
In the wider group of gambling services workers, casino hotels were the largest employer, at 34% in 2025[29]. Managers and supervisors may spend some time in an office, but they often walk the casino floor to watch activity[30].
Most casinos are open around the clock every day of the week, and employees are often scheduled for nights, weekends and holidays, which are typically the busiest times[31]. The handbook says full-time work is the norm for this group and part-time work is common[31].
The handbook also notes that casinos in some states are exempt from indoor smoking laws, so workers may be exposed to secondhand smoke[32]. Noise from slot machines, tables and loud customers can be distracting[33].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of gambling managers to grow 3.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 5,600 to 5,800 jobs[3]. That is a gain of about 200 jobs, and the count includes self-employed workers[3]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[4].
BLS also projects about 600 openings a year on average[6]. Openings include jobs that come open when workers retire or move to other fields, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 3.9% of workers leave the labor force and 6.7% move to a different occupation[34]. In 2025, 7.7% of gambling managers were self-employed[35].
Is it a good fit?
The facts suggest a job that pays well above the all-occupation median and can be reached with a high school diploma, if you build casino experience[1][2][7]. The path usually runs through years on the casino floor and a state license that typically includes a background check and drug test[23][20]. It is a small field of about 5,030 wage and salary jobs, and growth is projected to match the average for all occupations[12][3][4]. Schedules often include nights, weekends and holidays[31]. Pay depends on where you work, with the most jobs in Nevada and California[14].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a casino manager make a year?
- The median for gambling managers was $93,220 a year, or $44.82 an hour, in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $55,960 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $164,350[5].
- What education do you need to be a casino manager?
- BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education[7]. Requirements differ by establishment, and some employers want some college or a degree[18].
- Do casino managers need a license?
- A state regulatory agency licenses gambling workers. Candidates give photo identification, pay a fee and typically pass a background check and drug test[23]. Age rules vary by state[24].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Gambling Managers in the US was $93,220 per year and $44.82 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Gambling Managers is projected to grow 3.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 5,600 to 5,800 jobs (a change of +200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Gambling Managers: 10th percentile $55,960, 25th percentile $72,570, 75th percentile $122,990, 90th percentile $164,350. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 600 openings for Gambling Managers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Gambling Managers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Gambling Managers was $103,050 per year and $49.54 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Gambling Managers: 10th percentile $26.90, 25th percentile $34.89, 75th percentile $59.13, 90th percentile $79.01. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 5,030 people were employed as Gambling Managers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Gambling Managers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Gambling Managers jobs: Nevada 790; California 620; Illinois 310; Louisiana 240; Florida 230. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Gambling Managers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $101,930; Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $101,470; Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $96,180; Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $94,580; Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $92,780; Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $83,620; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $80,170; Reno, NV $60,890. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Gambling Managers jobs: Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV 560 (median $94,580); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 260 (median $80,170); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 140 (median $96,180); Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 130 (median $92,780); Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ 120 (median $101,470); Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 120 (median $83,620). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Gambling Services Workers" covers Gambling Managers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET 11-9071.00 survey of workers (27 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 57%, Some College Courses 30%, Post-Secondary Certificate 7%, Bachelor's Degree 7% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET description of Gambling Managers. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 11-9071.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Casino Manager, Casino Operations Manager, Casino Shift Manager, Gaming Manager, Pit Manager, Shift Manager, Slot Manager, Slot Operations Manager. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Gambling Managers. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of gambling services workers in 2025: Casino hotels 34%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Gambling Managers: 3.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.7% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: 7.7% of Gambling Managers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the 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. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.