Administrative Services Managers vs Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling: $114K vs $80K Median Pay

Administrative Services Managers vs Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling: what changes?

Consider Administrative Services Managers if you want to plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services. Consider Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling if you would rather plan, direct, or coordinate entertainment and recreational activities and operations of a recreational facility, including cruise ships and parks. Both list bachelor's degree; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for Administrative Services Managers (less than 5 years) and Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling (less than 5 years).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Administrative Services Managers and Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Administrative Services Managers

National median pay (2025): $114,130
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Prepare and review operational reports and schedules to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 22,000

Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Administrative Services Managers brief

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling

National median pay (2025): $79,520
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Plan, organize, or lead group activities for customers, such as exercise routines, athletic events, or arts and crafts.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 5,100

Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling brief

How the national numbers differ

Administrative Services Managers has the edge on annual openings

Administrative Services Managers is at 22,000 annual openings, compared with 5,100 annual openings for Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling.

Administrative Services Managers has the edge on median pay

Administrative Services Managers is at $114,130, compared with $79,520 for Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling.

Typical preparation differs.

Administrative Services Managers: Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling: Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling has the edge on projected growth

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling is at 6% projected growth, compared with 5.2% projected growth for Administrative Services Managers.

75.7/ 100

Administrative Services Managers

60.8/ 100

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Administrative Services Managers vs Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling

Dimension	Administrative Services Managers	Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling
Median pay (2025)	$114,130	$79,520
Pay percentile	88.5 percentile	71.5 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	5.2%	6%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	22,000	5,100
2025 employment	279,000	43,900
How you qualify	Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years	Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 4
Related work experience	Prior related experience: less than 5 years.	Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Administrative Services Managers brief Read Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling brief

Administrative Services Managers vs Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Administrative Services Managers

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling

How the national numbers differ

Administrative Services Managers has the edge on annual openings

Administrative Services Managers has the edge on median pay

Typical preparation differs.

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling has the edge on projected growth

Administrative Services Managers vs Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling

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