Ride Operations Job at Great America

When Kyle D. was looking for his first job, he says working at California’s Great America just made sense. He grew up coming to Great America with his family and friends, and his favorite part of every trip was always going on rides. Now he’s one of the park’s ride operations associates who give that same thrill to Great America’s many guests.

“I had a friend who worked at Great America and said it was a really fun job,” Kyle says. “So when I was looking for a job, it seemed like it would be a really cool place to work.”

This year marks the third season Kyle has worked at Great America. In that time, he’s worked many of the park’s biggest thrill rides—from Gold Striker to Demon and now RailBlazer. As a ride operator, he’s one member of a large team that ensures the safe and efficient operations of the park’s dozens of attractions.

Quick Application and Interview Process

Kyle says that the application and interview process was a lot easier than he expected. He was nervous to interview at first, but “once I got in, it was actually really fun to do,” he says. “Be yourself, and have fun with it.”

Kyle says one of his favorite parts of the job is how much of an impact being a ride operator can have on a guest’s experience at the park. In between checking restraints and operating the ride’s controls, he says rides associates play a big part in a guest’s day—making them feel welcome and talking to as many as possible has a big impact on how a guest experiences Great America, he says.

Get Paid to Ride

The coolest part of the job, Kyle says, is getting RailBlazer ready to open every morning. Each and every ride and slide at the park—from Celebration Swings to Drop Tower—goes through a thorough safety inspection before opening to guests, which includes a test ride by one of the ride’s operators. Who needs coffee to start the day when you could take a ride on RailBlazer instead?

We’re Hiring! Join the Team Today.

Want to have one of the coolest jobs around? Our park operations team is now hiring ride operators and lifeguards. You only need to be 16 years of age to apply and have at least one day of availability per week to be considered. Ride operator positions start at $15.75 per hour. Start your online application now and get ready to have the best summer ever!