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Usher: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$32,910median pay per year, or $15.82 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $23,560lowest 10% earn less
  2. $28,31025th percentile
  3. $32,910median
  4. $36,94075th percentile
  5. $42,470top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

The median pay for ushers, lobby attendants and ticket takers was $32,910 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 0.9% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+0.9%[2]
Openings per year
27,300[5]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[6]

How much do ushers make?

The official BLS category is Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers. In May 2025, the median wage was $32,910 a year, or $15.82 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was a little higher, at $33,080 a year or $15.91 an hour[7].

For comparison, the median for all occupations in the US was $50,980 a year[4].

Here is how pay spread out across the occupation[3][8]:

Percentile Annual Hourly
10th[3][8] $23,560 $11.33
25th[3][8] $28,310 $13.61
Median[1] $32,910 $15.82
75th[3][8] $36,940 $17.76
90th[3][8] $42,470 $20.42

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% of workers earned less than $23,560[3], and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

These figures cover wage and salary workers, both part time and full time. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10]. About 121,770 people held these wage and salary jobs in May 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

Washington had the highest median among states, at $41,010 a year, followed by Colorado at $38,380 and the District of Columbia at $37,930[12]. California was next at $37,870[12]. Mississippi had the lowest published median, at $21,570[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA was first at $44,760, then Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $44,250 and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $42,860[13].

The most jobs were in California (16,460), Texas (12,270) and Florida (9,300)[14]. The metro areas with the most jobs were New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ (7,290), Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (6,950) and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (4,490)[15].

Show median pay in 49 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[12]$41,0104,070
Colorado$38,3802,960
District of Columbia$37,930770
California$37,87016,460
New York$37,1106,910
New Jersey$35,9903,030
Maine$35,850400
Connecticut$34,9401,130
Alaska$34,680180
Illinois$34,5605,160
Montana$34,420n/a
Oregon$34,1101,100
Rhode Island$34,040340
Maryland$34,0201,770
New Hampshire$33,970190
Massachusetts$33,9402,270
Minnesota$33,4801,880
Arizona$32,5103,540
Missouri$32,3503,010
Delaware$31,200200
Georgia$30,8202,960
Hawaii$30,640540
Tennessee$30,5502,380
Michigan$30,5303,170
North Carolina$30,2605,390
Nevada$30,1103,210
South Dakota$29,430320
Idaho$29,360700
Florida$29,1309,300
Pennsylvania$29,1304,330
Wisconsin$28,7802,100
Virginia$28,5803,130
Ohio$28,5403,730
Nebraska$28,260510
New Mexico$28,230570
Arkansas$28,050340
North Dakota$27,840200
Wyoming$27,800120
Louisiana$27,750870
Indiana$27,4401,930
Kansas$26,690490
Utah$26,6501,340
Texas$26,61012,270
South Carolina$26,4901,300
Oklahoma$26,2601,450
Kentucky$25,9301,110
Iowa$25,720750
West Virginia$23,400300
Alabama$22,360770
Mississippi$21,570610

How to become an usher

The entry path is short, according to BLS[6]:

O*NET places the job in Job Zone 1-2, which means very little to some preparation is needed[16]. BLS lists short-term on-the-job training as the typical way to learn the job[6].

What ushers do

Ushers help guests at entertainment events[17]. Job titles reported by workers include theater attendant, ticket taker and visitor services associate[18]. O*NET lists these tasks, with the most important first[19]:

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of ushers, lobby attendants and ticket takers to grow 0.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 124,500 to 125,600 jobs, a change of 1,100[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[20]. The projection counts include self-employed workers[2].

BLS still expects about 27,300 openings a year on average[5]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 10.3% of workers leave the labor force and 11.5% move to a different occupation[21].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show a job with a low barrier to entry. It needs no formal credential and no related experience, and training is short[6]. Pay is below the all-occupations median of $50,980[1][4]. Growth is slower than the all-occupations rate[2][20]. About 27,300 openings a year are projected, and openings include jobs left by workers who move on[5][21]. Pay also varies by place, so it is worth checking your own state and metro area above[12][13].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[22].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an usher make an hour?
The median wage was $15.82 an hour in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $11.33 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $20.42[8].
What education do you need to be an usher?
BLS lists no formal educational credential and no related work experience for entry, along with short-term on-the-job training[6].
Is usher a growing job?
BLS projects 0.9% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][20]. About 27,300 openings a year are expected[5].
What is the highest paying state for ushers?
Washington, with a median of $41,010 a year in May 2025[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers in the US was $32,910 per year and $15.82 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers is projected to grow 0.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 124,500 to 125,600 jobs (a change of +1,100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers: 10th percentile $23,560, 25th percentile $28,310, 75th percentile $36,940, 90th percentile $42,470. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 27,300 openings for Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers 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
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers was $33,080 per year and $15.91 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers: 10th percentile $11.33, 25th percentile $13.61, 75th percentile $17.76, 90th percentile $20.42. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 121,770 people were employed as Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $44,760; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $44,250; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $42,860; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $38,380; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $38,310; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $38,090; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $37,870; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $37,640. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers jobs: California 16,460; Texas 12,270; Florida 9,300; New York 6,910; North Carolina 5,390. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 7,290 (median $38,310); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 6,950 (median $37,870); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 4,490 (median $35,000); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 4,020 (median $27,230); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 3,150 (median $29,750); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 2,960 (median $44,250). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. O*NET 39-3031.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  17. O*NET description of Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers. O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET 39-3031.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Lobby Attendant, Theater Attendant, Theatre Usher, Ticket Attendant, Ticket Taker, Usher, Visitor Services Assistant, Visitor Services Associate. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET task list for Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers. O*NET OnLine
  20. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  21. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers: 10.3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 11.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  22. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

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.