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The average salary for a Drive-In Theater Attendant is approximately $29,594 per year, translating to about $14 per hour. Salary rates can differ significantly based on several factors, including geographical location, years of experience, and the specific theater chain.
Some states offer higher wages due to cost of living adjustments and demand for staff. For instance, attendants in metropolitan areas tend to earn more than those in rural settings. Here's a brief overview of average yearly salaries by state:
Entry-level positions may start at around $25,000 annually, while those with several years in the industry can command salaries exceeding $35,000. As you gain experience, responsibilities often increase, providing opportunities for advancement within theater management.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level drive-in theater attendant | $26,200 | $12.59 |
| Mid-level drive-in theater attendant | $28,500 | $13.71 |
| Senior-level drive-in theater attendant | $32,600 | $15.67 |
The average drive-in theater attendant salary in Washington, Idaho, and North Dakota are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average drive-in theater attendant salary states are Alabama, Illinois, and Florida.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $39,956 | $19.21 |
| 2 | Montana | $37,116 | $17.84 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $40,529 | $19.49 |
| 4 | Iowa | $36,085 | $17.35 |
| 5 | Oregon | $36,752 | $17.67 |
| 6 | Washington | $42,560 | $20.46 |
| 7 | Maine | $40,300 | $19.38 |
| 8 | Idaho | $40,917 | $19.67 |
| 9 | Ohio | $33,735 | $16.22 |
| 10 | Indiana | $36,876 | $17.73 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $33,151 | $15.94 |
| 12 | Kansas | $33,478 | $16.10 |
| 13 | Nevada | $32,248 | $15.50 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $33,475 | $16.09 |
| 15 | Colorado | $32,674 | $15.71 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $30,967 | $14.89 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $36,951 | $17.76 |
| 18 | Arizona | $31,109 | $14.96 |
| 19 | New York | $35,054 | $16.85 |
| 20 | Vermont | $33,739 | $16.22 |
| 21 | California | $36,178 | $17.39 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $33,713 | $16.21 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $33,170 | $15.95 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $33,497 | $16.10 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $32,628 | $15.69 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $31,383 | $15.09 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $28,006 | $13.46 |
| 28 | Delaware | $31,954 | $15.36 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $26,054 | $12.53 |
| 30 | Alaska | $30,718 | $14.77 |
| 31 | Georgia | $25,801 | $12.40 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $29,303 | $14.09 |
| 33 | Virginia | $27,617 | $13.28 |
| 34 | Michigan | $27,770 | $13.35 |
| 35 | Utah | $24,797 | $11.92 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $26,571 | $12.77 |
| 37 | New Jersey | $27,618 | $13.28 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $29,425 | $14.15 |
| 39 | Texas | $24,196 | $11.63 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $26,932 | $12.95 |
| 41 | Florida | $22,755 | $10.94 |
| 42 | District of Columbia | $31,171 | $14.99 |
| 43 | Illinois | $23,208 | $11.16 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $24,658 | $11.85 |
| 45 | Maryland | $24,042 | $11.56 |
| 46 | Alabama | $23,506 | $11.30 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $23,688 | $11.39 |
| 48 | Missouri | $22,644 | $10.89 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $23,593 | $11.34 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $20,838 | $10.02 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $20,378 | $9.80 |
The highest-paying cities for drives-in theater attendant are Seattle, WA, Fresno, CA, and Waltham, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $42,689 | $20.52 |
| 2 | Fresno, CA | $37,025 | $17.80 |
| 3 | Waltham, MA | $37,020 | $17.80 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $36,893 | $17.74 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $36,440 | $17.52 |
| 6 | White Plains, NY | $35,140 | $16.89 |
| 7 | Toledo, OH | $34,759 | $16.71 |
| 8 | Wilmington, DE | $32,096 | $15.43 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $31,214 | $15.01 |
| 10 | Glendale, AZ | $31,184 | $14.99 |
| 11 | Anchorage, AK | $30,832 | $14.82 |
| 12 | Grand Rapids, MI | $27,992 | $13.46 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $27,971 | $13.45 |
| 14 | Paterson, NJ | $27,782 | $13.36 |
| 15 | Chattanooga, TN | $26,306 | $12.65 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $25,947 | $12.47 |
| 17 | Charlotte, NC | $25,784 | $12.40 |
| 18 | Salt Lake City, UT | $24,879 | $11.96 |
| 19 | Dallas, TX | $24,357 | $11.71 |
| 20 | Baltimore, MD | $24,164 | $11.62 |
A drive-in theater attendant's salary ranges from $23,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $36,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| 75th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| Average | $29,594 | $2,466 | $14 |
| 25th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $23,000 | $1,917 | $11 |
The highest paying types of drives-in theater attendant are ticket worker, door captain, and press box custodian.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usher | $28,872 | $2,406 | $13.88 | 935 |
| Crew Member | $28,946 | $2,412 | $13.92 | 239,413 |
| Taker Down | $25,617 | $2,135 | $12.32 | 1,633 |
| Usher/Ticket Taker | $29,285 | $2,440 | $14.08 | 1,556 |
| Ticket Taker | $30,235 | $2,520 | $14.54 | 1,554 |
| Attendant | $27,453 | $2,288 | $13.20 | 52,299 |
Top companies hiring drives-in theater attendant now:
Drive-in theater attendant salaries at PSEA and Hyatt Hotels are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average drive-in theater attendant salary at companies like Guckenheimer and Troon are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PSEA | $34,669 | $16.67 |
| 2 | Hyatt Hotels | $34,056 | $16.37 |
| 3 | Guckenheimer | $29,486 | $14.18 |
| 4 | Troon | $28,867 | $13.88 |
| 5 | Deerfield Park District | $28,256 | $13.58 |
| 6 | SP Plus | $26,659 | $12.82 |
The average drive-in theater attendant salary has risen by $7,661 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average drive-in theater attendant earned $21,933 annually, but today, they earn $29,594 a year. That works out to a 26% change in pay for drives-in theater attendant over the last decade.
Compare drive-in theater attendant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare drive-in theater attendant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $29,600 | $14.23 | +6.4% |
| 2024 | $27,700 | $13.32 | +5.3% |
| 2023 | $26,200 | $12.61 | +6.5% |
| 2022 | $24,500 | $11.80 | +4.3% |
| 2021 | $23,500 | $11.29 | +3.7% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP Plus | Attendant-Driving | Houston, TX | 06/27/2025 | $31,305 |
| Rydell Cars | Drive Attendant-Rochester Toyota | Rochester, MN | 06/27/2025 | $33,392 |
| SP Plus Corporation | Attendant-Driving | Philadelphia, PA | 06/26/2025 | $31,305 |
| SP Plus Corporation | Attendant-Driving | New York, NY | 06/23/2025 | $32,349 |
| Towne Park | Hotel Bell Attendant [Non-Driving]-Hourly + Tips Potential-Gaylord Palms | Kissimmee, FL | 06/22/2025 | $20,870 |
| SP Plus Corporation | Attendant-Driving | Rochester, MN | 06/13/2025 | $37,566 |
| SP Plus Corporation | Traffic Control Attendant-Driving | Los Angeles, CA | 06/12/2025 | $45,392 |
| SP Plus Corporation | Attendant-Driving | Baltimore, MD | 06/04/2025 | $31,305 |
| SP Plus | Attendant-Driving | Baltimore, MD | 05/25/2025 | $31,305 |
| City of Allentown, Pa | Driving Range Attendant | Allentown, PA | 05/24/2025 | $24,063 |
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