Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling vs Medical and Health Services Managers: $80K vs $124K Median Pay

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

Consider Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling if you want to plan, direct, or coordinate entertainment and recreational activities and operations of a recreational facility, including cruise ships and parks. Consider Medical and Health Services Managers if you would rather plan, direct, or coordinate medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations. Both list bachelor's degree; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling (less than 5 years) and Medical and Health Services Managers (less than 5 years).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling and Medical and Health Services Managers. 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

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

Medical and Health Services Managers

National median pay (2025): $123,860
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: Direct, supervise and evaluate work activities of medical, nursing, technical, clerical, service, maintenance, and other personnel.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 62,300

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 Medical and Health Services Managers brief

How the national numbers differ

Medical and Health Services Managers has the edge on annual openings

Medical and Health Services Managers is at 62,300 annual openings, compared with 5,100 annual openings for Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling.

Medical and Health Services Managers has the edge on median pay

Medical and Health Services Managers is at $123,860, compared with $79,520 for Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling.

Medical and Health Services Managers has the edge on projected growth

Medical and Health Services Managers is at 24.2% projected growth, compared with 6% projected growth for Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling.

60.8/ 100

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling

83.2/ 100

Medical and Health Services Managers

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

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling vs Medical and Health Services Managers

Dimension	Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling	Medical and Health Services Managers
Median pay (2025)	$79,520	$123,860
Pay percentile	71.5 percentile	90.1 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	6%	24.2%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	5,100	62,300
2025 employment	43,900	640,400
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 4	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 Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling brief Read Medical and Health Services Managers brief

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

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling

Medical and Health Services Managers

How the national numbers differ

Medical and Health Services Managers has the edge on annual openings

Medical and Health Services Managers has the edge on median pay

Medical and Health Services Managers has the edge on projected growth

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling vs Medical and Health Services Managers

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