Ride operator vs recreation attendant

The differences between ride operators and recreation attendants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a ride operator has an average salary of $33,398, which is higher than the $23,732 average annual salary of a recreation attendant.

The top three skills for a ride operator include safety procedures, customer service and emergency situations. The most important skills for a recreation attendant are CPR, reservations, and cleanliness.

Ride operator vs recreation attendant overview

	Ride Operator	Recreation Attendant
Yearly salary	$33,398	$23,732
Hourly rate	$16.06	$11.41
Growth rate	17%	10%
Number of jobs	29,616	97,043
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 48%	Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age	34	34
Years of experience	-	-

What does a ride operator do?

A ride operator is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of the people on motorized riding vehicles. Ride operators provide safety instructions before, during, and after the ride, regular inspection of machines, operating ride controls, assisting the riders with their inquiries, evaluating the riders on the eligibility for some specific passages, and following the restricted quantity riders. A ride operator must have a broad knowledge of the mechanical industry to control machines and perform immediate troubleshooting on emergencies.

What does a recreation attendant do?

Recreation attendants assist instructors and visitors with various recreational activities. The basic duties of the position involve monitoring the front desk of recreation centers and usage of its facilities, making for a vital component of its operations. Attendants must have good leadership and communication skills, as well as proficiencies in recreational equipment and knowledge of recreational facilities.

Ride operator vs recreation attendant salary

Ride operators and recreation attendants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Ride Operator	Recreation Attendant
Average salary	$33,398	$23,732
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $44,000	Between $13,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City	Bristol, CT	Sacramento, CA
Highest paying state	North Dakota	Colorado
Best paying company	Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County	Cypress
Best paying industry	Media	Professional

Differences between ride operator and recreation attendant education

There are a few differences between a ride operator and a recreation attendant in terms of educational background:

	Ride Operator	Recreation Attendant
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 48%	Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Ride operator vs recreation attendant demographics

Here are the differences between ride operators' and recreation attendants' demographics:

	Ride Operator	Recreation Attendant
Average age	34	34
Gender ratio	Male, 54.7% Female, 45.3%	Male, 47.2% Female, 52.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.1% Asian, 5.7% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 5.6% White, 60.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between ride operator and recreation attendant duties and responsibilities

Ride operator example responsibilities.

Operate all ski-lifts on the mt., also run the cash register in the restuarant
Participate in life guard training sessions which include rescue operations, first aid and CPR procedure.
Check the quality of snow and the consistency for what are required for the trails as the machines run.
Inventory -Ran cash register with POS system, snack bar and lazer tag -Opening and closing duties -stock food and supplies
Practice and successfully attempt CPR and emergency procedures.
Operate heavy machinery such as bobcat equipment and also operate and pave asphalt perform demolition work.

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Recreation attendant example responsibilities.

Maintain the gym area and equipment neat and orderly and manage to administer first aid and CPR.
Manage one-on-one and group social and physical sessions with long-term nursing and short-term rehabilitation residents
Train in first aid, pathogen spread prevention, aquatic safety, and adult/child CPR.
Examine injured persons, and administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation if necessary, utilizing training and medical supplies and equipment.
Set up heavy equipment and help load groceries into people's cars; very fast pace environment
Attend to customers who have purchased their groceries online and wait at the curbside of the store for pickup.

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Ride operator vs recreation attendant skills

Common ride operator skills

Safety Procedures, 19%
Customer Service, 18%
Emergency Situations, 9%
Guest Service, 7%
Safety Regulations, 5%
Excellent Guest, 4%

Common recreation attendant skills

CPR, 11%
Reservations, 8%
Cleanliness, 8%
Rental Equipment, 6%
Process Payments, 6%
Customer Service, 6%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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