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Career

Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers

Typical education: High school diplomaLower pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $32,910 Median per year · $15.82/hr Most earn $23,560–$42,470

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Maintain order and ensure adherence to safety rules.
  • Clean facilities.
  • Search for lost articles or for parents of lost children.
  • Give door checks to patrons who are temporarily leaving establishments.
  • Verify credentials of patrons desiring entrance into press box and permit only authorized persons to enter.
  • Assist patrons in finding seats, lighting the way with flashlights, if necessary.

Job outlook

United States
1% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 27,300 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Motion picture and video exhibition43.6%
  • Promoters of performing arts, sports, and similar events16.5%
  • Temporary help services6.2%
  • Investigation, guard, and armored car services5.3%
  • Spectator sports5.1%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: None

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: NoneEntry-level

This is an entry-level job. Most people start with just a high school diploma and no prior work experience, so you can often begin right after school. Moving up to a supervisory role usually takes a few years.

  1. High school diploma

    About 4 years

    Finish high school, ideally with courses that build communication and customer service skills. This is the education most employers ask for in this job.

  2. Usher, Lobby Attendant, or Ticket Taker

    Less than 1 year to start

    Greet guests, check tickets, help people find their seats or facilities, and handle questions at events like movies, concerts, or sports. This is the career itself, and no prior experience is usually required.

Where it can lead

  1. Lead Usher

    1-3 years of experience first

    You would coordinate other ushers and attendants, schedule shifts, and handle guest problems that come up during events. Showing reliability and good judgment on the job is usually how people earn this role.

  2. Receptionist

    1-2 years of experience first

    This role focuses on greeting visitors, answering phones, and giving information at an office or venue front desk. It usually asks for more experience with office tasks and customer communication than ushering does.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take public speaking or communications classesSpeaking clearly and confidently helps you give directions and answer guest questions well.
  • Volunteer at school or community eventsHelping with ticket sales, greeting families, or directing crowds at games and plays gives you real practice in this kind of work.
  • Get a starter customer service jobA part-time job at a cafe, store, or movie theater teaches the same habits you'd use as an usher, like staying friendly and handling busy shifts.
  • Learn basic first aid or CPR through a community or school classMany venues value staff who can respond calmly in an emergency, and it looks good on a job application.

In college

  • Work a part-time job at a venue or event spaceWorking at a stadium, theater, or convention center gives you hands-on experience and often a path to supervisor roles.
  • Take a course in customer service or hospitalityClasses in these areas teach guest-service skills that employers in entertainment and venues look for.
  • Join a campus event or student activities groupHelping run campus concerts, games, or events builds crowd management and teamwork experience.
  • Get certified in first aid and CPRA current certification shows you can handle emergencies, which matters for anyone working with large crowds.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for part-time jobs at movie theaters, arenas, concert halls, or community event venues. Many of them hire at 16 or 17, and the experience is exactly what future employers want to see.
  • Practice calm, friendly communication. Ushers often handle crowds, lost items, and upset guests, so being patient under pressure matters more than any particular class.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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