Assist patrons at entertainment events by performing duties, such as collecting admission tickets and passes from patrons, assisting in finding seats, searching for lost articles, and helping patrons locate such facilities as restrooms and telephones.
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Licensing, certifications and working conditions
State licensing. CareerOneStop's licensing data records no state license for Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers, which usually means it is not a licensed occupation. Requirements can still vary by employer and state.
Working conditions. On average, workers stand or walk about 5.1 hours and sit about 1.0 hours per day. For 77.2% of workers the job requires light strength. Shares of workers who interact with the general public (over 99.5%), cannot pause their work (79.0%), and are exposed to the outdoors (54.1%). From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Requirements Survey (2023 estimates); figures describe the occupation on average.
Sources: CareerOneStop (licenses and certifications), part of the CareerOneStop suite of web products, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (working conditions, wages). MajorPays has reorganized this information; these agencies have not approved or endorsed it. See it interactively, with state-by-state detail →
More data on this career
Industries that employ this career. The largest shares of ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers work in Information (42%), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (29%), Educational Services (7%) and Accommodation and Food Services (6%) (Census Bureau American Community Survey, 2024).
Where the jobs are, and what they pay by industry. Nationwide, the industries that employ the most ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers are Motion Picture and Video Industries (44% of the jobs counted, median pay $30,580), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (18% of the jobs counted, median pay $35,260), Employment Services (7% of the jobs counted, median pay $33,650), Investigation and Security Services (6% of the jobs counted, median pay $35,150) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). Among large industries, the highest median pay is in Performing Arts Companies ($35,880), Traveler Accommodation ($35,580), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events ($35,260). Pay differs by industry for many reasons, including the mix of jobs and where employers are located.
Injury and illness rates. For ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers, employers reported 67.0 nonfatal injury and illness cases with days away from work per 10,000 full-time workers, compared with 94.6 for all U.S. workers; the median case kept the worker away 7 days (all workers: 8) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023-2024). Rates reflect the work setting as well as the occupation.
Union membership. In the broad group "Personal care and service", which includes this career, 4.0% of wage and salary workers belong to a union (all U.S. workers: 10.0%); median weekly pay is $907 for union members and $750 for workers not in a union (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, 2025). This is a group figure, not specific to ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers.
Employer benefits. In the broad group "Service", which includes this career, 52% of civilian workers had access to an employer retirement plan, 51% had access to employer medical care benefits, and 70% had paid sick leave, 60% paid vacation and 59% paid holidays (all civilian workers: 75%, 74%, 83%, 77% and 79%) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey, March 2026). This is a group figure, not specific to ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers, and having access to a benefit does not mean every worker uses it. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has not endorsed this presentation. Employers spent about $27.17 per hour worked on total compensation for the occupational group "Service" in June 2026 ($19.59 in wages and salaries and $7.58 in benefits, 27.9% of the total; all civilian workers: $49.46, with 31.6% in benefits) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation).
Work environment. In O*NET's survey of workers in this occupation, the conditions most often placed at the two highest levels for ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers are: contact with others (100%), deal with external customers or the public in general (97%), indoors, environmentally controlled (94%), work with or contribute to a work group or team (93%), face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams (86%), physical proximity (82%). Each percentage is the share of respondents choosing the top two levels for that condition (for example 'most of the time' or 'continually'), so it describes how common the condition is in the job, not how a particular workplace is (O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Dept. of Labor, ETA, CC BY 4.0).
Typical preparation. In O*NET's survey of workers in this occupation, for related work experience, the most common answer (75% of 21 respondents) was "none"; for on-site or in-plant training, the most common answer (47% of 21 respondents) was "none". These are what workers report is needed to do the job; employers' requirements and individual paths vary (O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Dept. of Labor, ETA, CC BY 4.0).
Related careers. O*NET lists these occupations as similar to ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers in the work done and the skills used: Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop, Baggage Porters and Bellhops, Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks, Passenger Attendants, Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks, Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants, Cashiers, Receptionists and Information Clerks (O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Dept. of Labor, ETA, CC BY 4.0).
Pay by state. See what ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers earn in each state, with the pay range and number of jobs: Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers salary by state (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025).
Compare ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers with other careers (pay, growth, openings and education side by side).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 PUMS (MajorPays' own estimates from the survey; Census is credited as the source of the original data and has not endorsed them); BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses; BLS Current Population Survey; BLS National Compensation Survey (employee benefits); HRSA National Center for Health Workforce Analysis; U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification (LCA disclosure data, FY2025). MajorPays has selected and reorganized these figures; these agencies have not approved or endorsed them. See it interactively →