Cinema or theatre attendants, also known as ushers, work in the foyer and auditorium of a cinema or theatre. They sell tickets and refreshments, control access to the theatre and auditoriums, show people to their seats and clean the cinema or theatre.
The Work
You could be:
answering phone enquiries and taking bookings in advance, using a digital map of the auditorium to find vacant seats
selling tickets before the performance starts
checking tickets and showing people to their seats
selling programmes and refreshments in the auditorium
making sure people remained seated throughout the performance
supervising the auditorium during the performance, dealing with disputes over seating and dealing with anyone who is causing a disturbance
serving hot and cold food and drinks from a kiosk in the foyer and alcoholic drinks from a bar
restocking and pricing stock in kiosks and vending machines
cleaning and tidying the auditorium, foyer, and other areas at the end of each performance.
Pay
The figures below are only a guide. Actual salaries may vary, depending on:
where you work
the size of the company or organisation you work for
the demand for the job.
Starting pay is often based on the National Minimum Wage (NMW) or the National Living Wage (NLW).
As of 1 April 2026 the National Minimum Wage is £10.85 an hour for workers aged 18 to 20. The National Living Wage for those aged 21 and over is £12.71 an hour. Some assistants can earn around £10.80 to £11.70 an hour.
Conditions
You could work in a small local theatre or cinema, a large city theatre, a multi-screen cinema, a concert hall or a large arena.
You would work mostly in the afternoons and evenings (sometimes until about midnight) and at weekends.
Part time work is common.
In some places, such as holiday resorts, the work may be seasonal.
You may be walking up and down steps and tiered seating areas.
You would usually wear a uniform, which the employer will usually provide.
Getting In
You do not need formal qualifications, but you should be able to handle cash and give change.
You will probably need IT skills to book tickets and to record sales.
It helps to have customer service experience.
In most cinemas you have to be over 18 as you will be present while over-18 films are showing. You also need to be over 18 to serve alcoholic drinks.
What Does it Take?
You should be:
polite and helpful
confident
honest
patient and tactful – when dealing with the occasional difficult customer
calm in dealing with emergencies
able to do basic arithmetic in your head
able to work as part of a team.
You should have:
good stamina
a flexible attitude – to do a variety of different jobs
a smart appearance.
Training
Training is on the job, working with more experienced attendants.
You will also receive training in health and safety and emergency procedures.
You may be able to work towards a relevant SVQ such as Customer Service.
Getting On
With experience, and depending on your venue, you could move on to become a cashier, team leader or manager. See job profile for Cinema or Theatre Manager.
