Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Training and Teaching Others Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

The Work

Fairground workers supervise rides, side-shows and stalls. They open up the sides and stalls at the beginning of the day and lock up at the end. They may also be involved in setting up and dismantling rides or attractions, and in cleaning, painting and assisting in their repair when necessary.

They also charge the customers to use the rides and they may also have to ensure that the passengers are safely secured before the ride begins.

During opening times, fairground workers are responsible for starting and stopping the rides. On side-shows they give prises for good scores. At all times they must look out for the safety of customers and stop any unruly behaviour.

Arcade workers look after games machines and supervise the public using them. They make sure that customers behave reasonably and do not misuse the equipment. Arcade workers also have to understand the machines and games enough to sort out minor problems, like stuck coins or non-payment of prises. They may need to check large prise payouts. They are usually responsible for unlocking and locking the arcade and for keeping it clean and tidy.

Many jobs advertised are seasonal and students often work in fairgrounds and arcades during summer holidays.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Sell tickets and collect fees from customers.
• Provide information about facilities, entertainment options, and rules and regulations.
• Keep informed of shut-down and emergency evacuation procedures.
• Direct patrons to rides, seats, or attractions.
• Monitor activities to ensure adherence to rules and safety procedures, or arrange for the removal of unruly patrons.
• Record details of attendance, sales, receipts, reservations, or repair activities.
• Maintain inventories of equipment, storing and retrieving items and assembling and disassembling equipment as necessary.
• Tend amusement booths in parks, carnivals, or stadiums, performing duties, such as conducting games, photographing patrons, or awarding prises.
• Provide assistance to patrons entering or exiting amusement rides, boats, or ski lifts, or mounting or dismounting animals.
• Clean sporting equipment, vehicles, rides, booths, facilities, or grounds.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

This is an entry level job so qualifications and previous experience are not necessarily needed. 

Basic verbal, literacy, and numeracy may be required for customer service & till cash handling.  

***Garda Vetting & reference check may form part of application processes***

Some employers provide health & safety or first aid training to new employees, but some employers require that you have completed such training prior to employment:

Health & safety: First Aid, and Manual Handling. 

These courses may be available at low or no cost in FET centres nationwide. You can search for these key skills certs, just add the key word via Search our FET Coursefinder.

Training & Development

Employers may offer training and/or advancement opportunities within the organisation, to a supervisor or manager role for example. .

Experience of working as a Fairground/Arcade worker will also give you transferable skills in customer service which can be used in a wide range of careers. You can use this experience to explore our Career sectors Explorer. 

Last Updated: October, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €10k - €23k

Salaries will be in line with minimum wage, based on age. Salaries may also vary based on employer, location, sessional / seasonal rate, shift pattern, and duties.

Data Source(s):
Workplace Relations/ Gov.ie

Last Updated: February, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Although employment levels grew between 2021 and 2022 for this occupation, numbers employed remained below pre-COVID-19 levels. The numbers employed across the various roles in this occupation are too small in the Labour Force Survey for further analysis but the CSO Census data shows that approximately half of those in this occupation worked as air travel assistants or travel agents, with 2022 levels for these roles well below their 2016 levels.

Approximately a third of persons employed in this occupation work part-time, higher than the national average. The extent to which employment in these occupations will recover to their prepandemic levels is uncertain as affordability and attractiveness for air travel services in particular remains vulnerable to increased energy costs, and consumer demand and preferences given the green agenda and cost of living pressures.

• Fáilte Ireland

  • Amiens Street, Dublin 1
  • (01) 884 7700
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Retail Ireland

  • Click Here

• Health and Safety Authority

  • The Metropolitan Building, James Joyce St. Dublin 1
  • 1890 289 389
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here