Engineering for fun: roller coasters, animatronic characters, stage magic, movie effects, toys, pinball, fountains and sports gear.
Top pay: highest pay, longest training
Principal Show Systems Engineer: Senior engineer who leads the technology behind theme park rides and shows: the motion, effects, lighting and control systems working together. Typical pay $145k.
Special Effects Supervisor: Leads the team that builds real, on-set effects for movies and TV: explosions, rain, wind, crashes and collapsing buildings. Typical pay $120k.
Sports Equipment Research Scientist: Uses physics and materials science to invent faster golf balls, springier running shoes and safer football helmets. Typical pay $120k.
Mid pay: solid pay, degree or apprenticeship
Roller Coaster Engineer: Designs the track, trains and safety systems for roller coasters and thrill rides. Typical pay $95k.
Animatronics Engineer: Builds lifelike robot characters for theme parks, movies and museums. Typical pay $95k.
Stage Automation Engineer: Designs the motor systems that fly performers, move scenery and spin stages in concerts and Broadway shows. Typical pay $92k.
Toy Design Engineer: Turns a toy designer's idea into a product that's fun, safe and cheap enough to make by the million. Typical pay $85k.
Pinball & Arcade Machine Engineer: Designs the ramps, flippers, magnets and electronics of pinball and arcade machines. Typical pay $85k.
Musical Instrument Engineer: Designs electric guitars, digital pianos, synthesizers, drum machines and effects pedals. Typical pay $88k.
Fountain & Water Feature Engineer: Designs choreographed fountains, water shows and splash pads that dance to music. Typical pay $85k.
Ride Maintenance Technician: Inspects and repairs theme park rides every night so they're safe the next morning. Typical pay $55k.
Animatronics Technician: Keeps theme park animatronics, effects and show equipment working every day. Typical pay $58k.
Stage Automation Technician: Runs and maintains the motors and rigging that move scenery and fly performers during live shows. Typical pay $62k.
Special Effects Technician: Builds and runs practical effects on film sets and at concerts, from fake snow to fire bursts. Typical pay $68k.
Amusement Ride Inspector: Government inspector who checks carnival and theme park rides before they can open to the public. Typical pay $58k.
Entertainment Rigging Engineer: Engineers the structures that hang speakers, lights and flying performers over concert and theater stages. Typical pay $100k.
Water Slide Design Engineer: Designs the twists, drops and splashdowns of water slides and water park rides. Typical pay $90k.
Show Control Engineer: Programs the computers that sync lights, sound, video, animatronics and fireworks in theme park shows. Typical pay $95k.
Wave Pool & Surf Park Engineer: Designs the machines and pools that make perfect, surfable ocean waves hundreds of miles from any beach. Typical pay $100k.
Aerial Ropeway (Ski Lift) Engineer: Designs and installs chairlifts, gondolas and aerial trams that carry skiers and city commuters over mountains and rivers. Typical pay $95k.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.