The Shapiro Report

[swami2302]

Just out of curosity, what does the average themepark pay a ride op or any other park worker. I have a crappy job but it doesn't pay too shabby. I would love to work for an amusement park if I could actually make a living at it.

[shesaidboom]

^I'd assume minimum wage or not much more. During off season when high school kids are in school some parks [ie PCW] will pay workers more since they're usually desperate for them.

 

Even though I think the Cedar Point employee 'points system' is a little over the top it seems like Six Flags needs to start something like this with their employees. From what I've heard from Cedar Point employees, they lose points for doing something wrong, and when they lose too many points they're put on probation, lose shifts, or are fired. I think one of the employees I talked to said they can get points back by working extra shifts..but maybe I'm just making that part up, I can't remember. Some of the things they lose points for seem a little silly [ie. forgetting to wave to the train when it passes by], and I admit I think the whole system is a little extreme, but at least it keeps things running smoothly for the most part. I know there are a few Cedar Point employees, or past Cedar Point employees, on this board so I'm sure their info on this would be much more accurate than mine.

 

From what it seems, several Six Flags employees think they should be getting paid for doing nothing at all. Maybe if they implemented something like this employees would have more insentive to do a good job since they could be left jobless otherwise. I know people have been talking about a shortage of employees, so maybe this would make that worse since many people probably wouldn't want to work under these terms and the park probably wont want to get rid of employees when they're in desperate need of them..but instituting something similar might help?

[arrowfanman]

A points system would last about 3 weeks tops and then supervisiors would forget to keep on top of it. Sad but true...we already have other systems, for incentives and stuff. They're all hyped up the first week, and then are forgotten completely.

 

-Jahan

[swami2302]

Where does all the money go that a park makes? I know rides are extremely expensive especially coasters. But when a park charges $15.00 to park your car, $50.00 to get in,$3.00 for water and even more $$$ for food. It seems to me that there should be enough money to pay park employees a decent salary. If you pay well then you can be strict on rules and policy. But if you don't, most people won't put up with crap for minimum wage. I wonder what Holiday World or Dollywood pays. They seem to have great customer service. I believe if your not happy with your job then your attitude will be passed on to the customer.

[ParkTrips]

Operating costs. Especially when you have a park like MM that averages 10,000 or so guests a day, you're not going to be able to keep much of the revenue at the end of the day.

 

I'm sure one of SFI's biggest problems right now is finance charges too... I doubt they can be billions in debt and have interest-fee loans.

[shesaidboom]

^^ It definately also has to do with the work environment, it's not always about money. One job I worked at for three summers in a row was a minimum wage job, but the environment was great, the people I worked with were great and I enjoyed it, so I put a lot into it. If the management actually kept up with the points system or whatever other system they have in place and made the work environment more positive, employees would probably be happier to work there and would put more effort into it. Learning that they do actually have a system in place but don't stick to it, makes me realize why employees are the way they are. That's even worse than not having a system in place to begin with.

 

Personally I don't think paying them more will make any difference. If the work environment still sucks, they're still not going to put forth much effort no matter how much you pay them.

[Electerik]

^ Agreed. While what makes the environment "fun" can vary from park to park, it definitely needs to be there.

 

They all pay pretty badly, in my experience. To my knowledge, Universal Orlando pays the highest starting wage for ride ops at the moment: $7.25 an hour (or $7.50 if you have 2 years of previous guest service experience).

 

Of course, some places end up paying decently if you're there long enough.

 

Some parks also have some pretty good benefits. Both in the traditional sense (medical, 401k), and in the more esoteric sense. For example, Cedar Point holds weekly employee ride nights during the summer, while Universal Orlando and BGA/SWO employees get into all four parks free.

 

You also tend to get a fair amount of free tickets to your park, and free admission to all the other parks in your chain (as well as the park you work at, of course).

 

Erik Allen Elness

("Been paid poorly by the best.")

[arrowfanman]

SFMM starts at $7.50, if you are an adult.

DLR starts at, like, $8.00 or $8.25.

 

Of course, costs of living in CA are different than elsewhere, not that your average teenager has to worry about that.

 

-Jahan

[SharkTums]

^Shouldn't you be at the park trying to fix these things!!!!???

[Jon Sabo]

If plans go through with the project we are working on in Hawaii, expect the pay rates to be around $9-11 range. Most people would move here just for that, but be (elmer fudd voice) verry verry quiet-cost of living is wayyyyyyy expensive. That's why I'm moving back to VA..lol

Houses here are going for about $420,000 (dump)-$645,000 (and that's for a 3 bedroom house-no pool)!

[Twister II]

Ive only had one visit with bad ops this year.

You can see it here: http://rcdb.com/ig210.htm?picture=10 (notice who took that picture )

 

But since then, all of my visits to SFEG have been nice. Clean park, nice employees, no teenagers having sex, and all rides open.

 

(Remember, to a mother, having sex is like holding hands)

 

I can say, this park has had a very big turn around, its just a shame that it may no longer be there. Rumors have it that the park is moving to:

 

A.) Outside DIA (airport) where it would still be in the Denver area.

 

or

 

B.) About 20 minutes north, where there is a vast about of nothing, for expansions.

 

Anyways, I do support him, after all, SFI is not just going to kick him out right now.