Entertainment and Recreation Manager
SOC 11-9072.00 · ESCO 1431
Role snapshot
Overview
Entertainment and Recreation Managers are responsible for the planning, organization, and execution of events and activities within various entertainment and recreational venues. They oversee venues, plan events, and manage staff at theme parks, theatres, sports facilities, or recreation centres. This role involves budgeting, marketing, and ensuring every guest has a great experience, blending business acumen with creative energy to deliver memorable experiences.
Creates engaging and safe environments for leisure, entertainment, and recreation, contributing to community well-being, tourism, and economic activity. Directly enhances customer satisfaction and loyalty.
On the job
- Develop and implement recreation programs, events, or entertainment schedules
- Manage operational budgets, including revenue generation and expense control
- Hire, train, schedule, and supervise staff, ensuring high levels of customer service
- Oversee facility maintenance, safety protocols, and regulatory compliance
- Coordinate marketing efforts and promotional activities for programs and events
Tools & technology
Average salary
Job outlook
StableDemand is steady. This is an established role with consistent hiring across sectors.
Education & training
Typically requires a bachelor's degree in recreation management, hospitality management, business administration, or a related field. Relevant experience can sometimes substitute for formal education.
AI impact outlook
Note — this is our current view. AI is moving fast, so we revisit these ratings.
Show how this was assessed Hide the detail
Note — this is our current view. AI is moving fast, so we revisit these ratings.
Show how this was assessed Hide the detailWhy this role received this rating
Core task exposure
moderate
How much of the role’s important work could AI perform?
AI can optimize program scheduling, forecast participation, manage resource allocation, and enhance marketing campaign effectiveness for events and activities.
End-to-end automation
low
Can AI complete the work without substantial human involvement?
Creative program design, fostering human engagement, crisis management during events, and motivating diverse staff teams remain squarely in the human domain.
Adoption pressure
high
How likely are employers to introduce AI into this work?
High, as AI offers significant potential for improving operational efficiency, maximizing guest satisfaction, and optimizing revenue in recreational venues.
Human dependence
strong
How much does success depend on human judgement, relationships and accountability?
Success hinges on human leadership, creative program development, participant engagement, staff motivation, and adeptly handling unpredictable real-world event scenarios.
Protective — a higher rating lowers the overall score.
Role adaptability
strong
How easily can the role evolve as AI takes on more tasks?
Managers can readily adapt by utilizing AI for planning and analytics, allowing them to allocate more time to innovative program design, guest interaction, and staff development.
Shown for context — not part of the score.
What AI may take on
These are the parts of the role most likely to be automated or significantly accelerated.
- Developing optimized schedules for recreation programs and events
- Forecasting participation rates for various activities based on historical data and weather
- Allocating staff and resources efficiently for events and facility operations
- Generating data-driven insights for marketing and promotional activities
Where people remain essential
These parts continue to depend heavily on human judgement, relationships and accountability.
- Designing innovative and engaging recreation programs for diverse audiences
- Leading, training, and motivating a team of recreation staff
- Ensuring high levels of customer service and guest satisfaction
- Responding to unforeseen issues or emergencies during events and daily operations
- Managing facility maintenance, safety protocols, and regulatory compliance
How the role may evolve
AI for planning, humans for engaging.
This role will evolve from administrative and scheduling tasks to a greater focus on creative program development, direct guest engagement, and leveraging human judgment for crisis management and staff inspiration.
Strengthen your future fit
- Proficiency in AI-driven event management and scheduling software
- Strengthening skills in creative program development and design
- Enhancing leadership and team management capabilities
- Developing advanced customer service and guest relations strategies
- Mastering data analysis for strategic decision-making and operational improvements
- Assessment horizon
- 3–7 years
- Confidence
- High
- Last reviewed
- August 2026
- Methodology
- v1.0
This assessment reflects current AI capabilities and expected adoption patterns. Actual impacts will vary by industry, employer and the way each role is performed.
Career pathways
WHERE YOU COULD GO
CURRENT ROLE
Entertainment and Recreation Manager
Entertainment & Media
ADJACENT MOVES
STARTING POINTS
Who thrives here
Interest profile
enterprising · ECS
Individuals who enjoy leading and influencing others, organizing and structuring activities, and working directly with people to provide services or entertainment will find this role fulfilling.
Personality characteristics
Outgoing
Thrives in social interactions, enjoys leading teams, and engaging with customers and stakeholders.
Organized
Excels at planning, scheduling, and managing complex logistics to ensure events run smoothly.
Creative
Enjoys developing new programs and finding innovative ways to enhance entertainment and recreation experiences.
Supportive
Patient and understanding, adept at managing staff and resolving customer issues with empathy.
Resilient
Maintains composure under pressure, especially during live events or unexpected operational challenges.
Best for
- Individuals who are natural leaders with strong organizational skills and a passion for creating enjoyable experiences.
- Those who thrive in dynamic, people-oriented environments and enjoy problem-solving on the fly.
- People who like a mix of strategic planning, team management, and hands-on operational oversight.
Watch out for
- Requires frequent weekend and evening work due to event schedules.
- Can be fast-paced and demanding, especially during peak seasons or major events.
- Involves managing diverse personalities and customer expectations.
A week in the life
A representative working week for an Entertainment and Recreation Manager — where the deep work, meetings, and admin actually land.
Real people. Real results.
Thousands of people
can't be wrong.
Frequently asked questions about Entertainment and Recreation Manager roles
What does an Entertainment and Recreation Manager do?
An Entertainment and Recreation Manager entertainment and Recreation Managers are responsible for the planning, organization, and execution of events and activities within various entertainment and recreational venues. They oversee venues, plan events, and manage staff at theme parks, theatres, sports facilities, or recreation centres. This role involves budgeting, marketing, and ensuring every guest has a great experience, blending business acumen with creative energy to deliver memorable experiences. Creates engaging and safe environments for leisure, entertainment, and recreation, contributing to community well-being, tourism, and economic activity. Directly enhances customer satisfaction and loyalty.
How much does an Entertainment and Recreation Manager earn?
An Entertainment and Recreation Manager earns a median of $78,000 per year in the US, typically ranging from $55,000 to $110,000.
What qualifications do you need to become an Entertainment and Recreation Manager?
To become an Entertainment and Recreation Manager, typically requires a bachelor's degree in recreation management, hospitality management, business administration, or a related field. Relevant experience can sometimes substitute for formal education.
What personality suits an Entertainment and Recreation Manager?
Entertainment and Recreation Manager roles tend to suit people who are outgoing — energised by people, visibility and quick social contact (Extraversion 82/100) and open and curious — drawn to variety, ideas and new approaches (Openness 78/100). The traits that matter most in the role are Outgoing, Organized, Creative and Supportive. Thrives in social interactions, enjoys leading teams, and engaging with customers and stakeholders. On interests, Entertainment and Recreation Manager maps to an ECS Holland Code profile — individuals who enjoy leading and influencing others, organizing and structuring activities, and working directly with people to provide services or entertainment will find this role fulfilling.
Who does an Entertainment and Recreation Manager role suit?
An Entertainment and Recreation Manager role is usually a strong fit for these reasons. High Enterprising (E) and Social (S) scores indicate a natural inclination for leading teams and interacting with the public. The role's emphasis on planning and organization aligns well with a Conventional (C) interest in structured environments. Opportunity to blend business management with creative program development.
What are the downsides of being an Entertainment and Recreation Manager?
Entertainment and Recreation Manager roles come with trade-offs worth weighing up. Requires frequent weekend and evening work due to event schedules. Can be fast-paced and demanding, especially during peak seasons or major events. Involves managing diverse personalities and customer expectations.
What is the work environment like for an Entertainment and Recreation Manager?
Work as an Entertainment and Recreation Manager is mostly mixed-based with onsite arrangements common, semi-structured — a mix of set processes and self-directed work and high exposure to clients or stakeholders. Around 25% of the week is focused deep work.
What skills do you need to be an Entertainment and Recreation Manager?
Core skills for an Entertainment and Recreation Manager include Event planning and coordination, Staff management and leadership, Budgeting and financial management, Customer service excellence and Marketing and promotion.
How do you become an Entertainment and Recreation Manager?
Common entry routes into Entertainment and Recreation Manager roles include Assistant Manager Recreation, Event Coordinator, Recreation Specialist and Hospitality Supervisor.
What career progression is there for an Entertainment and Recreation Manager?
From an Entertainment and Recreation Manager role, common next steps include Senior Entertainment Manager and Director of Operations (Venue/Resort); lateral moves include Event Planner and Hospitality Manager.
What is the job outlook for Entertainment and Recreation Manager roles?
The outlook for Entertainment and Recreation Manager roles is currently rated stable. Demand is steady. This is an established role with consistent hiring across sectors.
Will AI replace Entertainment and Recreation Manager roles?
Traitstack rates automation risk for Entertainment and Recreation Manager roles at 45 out of 100, which is moderate. Operational optimization and data analysis are targets for AI, enabling managers to prioritize program design, participant engagement, and staff leadership in diverse recreational settings. AI is most likely to take on developing optimized schedules for recreation programs and events, forecasting participation rates for various activities based on historical data and weather and allocating staff and resources efficiently for events and facility operations. Designing innovative and engaging recreation programs for diverse audiences, leading, training, and motivating a team of recreation staff and ensuring high levels of customer service and guest satisfaction stay with people. AI for planning, humans for engaging. That score measures how much of the work could change, not the likelihood the job disappears. It is Traitstack's current view, revisited as AI capability moves.