Also called: Carnie, Midway Ride Jockey
Travels from fair to fair setting up, running, and tearing down carnival rides.
Carnival crews spend a few days at each county or state fair, assembling rides overnight, running them all day, then breaking them down and driving to the next town. Many travel from spring to fall.
No formal education, about 0 years after high school. No degree; trained on the job.
Ways in: On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). BLS 2025-35 projection band for SOC 39-3091: Average (3% to 4%).
Low risk for 10 years. Assembling rides overnight, running them and tearing them down is physical traveling work; AI isn't a factor.
Age 18+. One way to start: Apply to traveling carnival companies in spring; they hire for the season and teach setup
Classes: Shop class, Auto/mechanics CTE, PE/fitness, Health/first aid.
Official data: O*NET occupation 39-3091.
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