Hospitality Management Education and Career Guide
- Overview
- Job Description
- Degrees
- Salaries
Home » Hospitality Management » Salary
A hospitality manager is an umbrella for many careers in the hospitality industry, such as facilities, PR, restaurant, and casino managers. One of the most common hospitality careers is hotel manager.
These managers are responsible for keeping a hotel running smoothly by scheduling staff, addressing customer concerns, and managing inventory. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), hotel managers earn a median salary of $65,360 which equates to an hourly rate of $31.
Lodging Managers
10%$39,270
25%$49,380
50%$65,360Median
75%$87,930
90%$127,090
Median Hourly Wage$31
Job growth6.7%
Total Employment41,980
| State | Median Salary | Bottom 10% | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $68,070 | $38,000 | $92,720 |
| Alaska | $67,180 | $36,310 | $95,750 |
| Arizona | $62,100 | $41,070 | $121,970 |
| Arkansas | $44,970 | $35,010 | $67,860 |
| California | $74,660 | $40,990 | $151,180 |
| Colorado | $97,760 | $60,550 | $160,500 |
| Connecticut | $108,280 | $60,640 | $187,640 |
| Delaware | $77,690 | $57,720 | $103,540 |
| District of Columbia | $75,350 | $60,670 | $138,770 |
| Florida | $76,580 | $44,190 | $160,240 |
| Georgia | $62,440 | $40,150 | $92,140 |
| Hawaii | $104,900 | $80,740 | $179,080 |
| Idaho | $66,020 | $38,450 | $102,130 |
| Illinois | $57,980 | $37,280 | $128,550 |
| Indiana | $51,240 | $35,840 | $83,580 |
| Iowa | $49,240 | $36,480 | $85,530 |
| Kansas | $58,220 | $39,850 | $125,890 |
| Kentucky | $51,520 | $34,490 | $80,430 |
| Louisiana | $59,630 | $31,340 | $102,110 |
| Maine | $73,580 | $43,370 | $110,410 |
| Maryland | $64,790 | $46,580 | $125,070 |
| Massachusetts | $78,830 | $51,950 | $161,770 |
| Michigan | $68,000 | $41,760 | $93,540 |
| Minnesota | $71,900 | $39,780 | $101,400 |
| Missouri | $56,500 | $43,430 | $115,700 |
| Montana | $59,630 | $47,820 | $77,240 |
| Nebraska | $46,000 | $37,700 | $82,670 |
| Nevada | $62,950 | $40,560 | $140,000 |
| New Hampshire | $65,510 | $39,130 | $115,930 |
| New Jersey | $69,610 | $41,910 | $124,910 |
| New Mexico | $64,600 | $46,210 | $120,420 |
| New York | $78,510 | $57,340 | $161,150 |
| North Carolina | $61,750 | $36,560 | $98,860 |
| North Dakota | $59,340 | $26,000 | $77,030 |
| Ohio | $49,350 | $33,660 | $97,830 |
| Oklahoma | $52,540 | $38,790 | $76,370 |
| Oregon | $55,860 | $38,490 | $82,860 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,060 | $40,730 | $98,310 |
| Rhode Island | $80,620 | $58,160 | $115,280 |
| South Carolina | $69,030 | $48,030 | $181,120 |
| South Dakota | $61,910 | $46,470 | $83,110 |
| Tennessee | $51,080 | $38,000 | $100,290 |
| Texas | $57,680 | $38,750 | $102,040 |
| Utah | $76,420 | $49,710 | $111,020 |
| Vermont | $71,800 | $32,730 | $101,390 |
| Virginia | $69,390 | $39,890 | $118,440 |
| Washington | $67,980 | $43,790 | $124,240 |
| West Virginia | $60,230 | $39,350 | $93,880 |
| Wisconsin | $60,090 | $38,290 | $96,590 |
| Wyoming | $62,330 | $33,990 | $137,860 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2023 median salary; projected job growth through 2032. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
In this Article
- Range of Hospitality Jobs and Salaries
- Salary Comparison
- Factors that Can Affect Salaries
Highest-paying cities for hospitality managers
| Metro Area | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI | $106,840 |
| Boulder, CO | $105,170 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | $100,730 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $98,670 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $97,530 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $97,030 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $91,120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $88,460 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $83,060 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $82,830 |
How do hospitality management salaries compare to other roles in hospitality?
There are many other management careers in the hospitality industry, and some are growing at a similar rate or significantly faster than hotel managers. Here's a look at four other careers with BLS salaries and projected job growth tthrough 2032.
Meeting, convention, and event planners help book, plan, and oversee events like weddings, conferences, and conventions.
- Median annual salary: $56,920
- Median hourly rate: $27
- Job growth: 7.5%
Restaurant managers keep restaurants running smoothly by managing staff schedules, ordering supplies, addressing customer concerns, and ensuring food is handled appropriately and safely.
- Median annual salary: $63,060
- Median hourly rate: $30
- Job growth: 0.5%
Facilities managers oversee a property like a casino, hotel, or resort and schedule maintenance and repairs. They also make sure departments have the supplies and equipment they need and keep the property safe.
- Median annual salary: $102,340
- Median hourly rate: $49
- Job growth: 4.6%
Marketing and PR managers work with businesses like resorts, hotels, and entertainment venues, helping to maintain the business' image through branding, advertising, social media campaigns, and other marketing efforts.
- Median annual salary: $157,620
- Median hourly rate: $76
- Job growth: 6.6%
How do they compare to other management roles?
Hospitality manager salaries can vary when compared to managerial salaries for other roles or in other industries. This chart shows how a hotel manager's median annual salary stacks up against some other professions.
| Career | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Lodging Managers | $65,360 |
| Human Resources Managers | $136,350 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $62,850 |
| Marketing Managers | $157,620 |
Keep in mind that when it comes to your career, salary is only one consideration. You may want to weigh salaries when deciding which hospitality field is right for you, but it's important to also think about the lifestyle that you prefer, the types of challenges you enjoy, and the type of work that you'll find most rewarding.
What factors affect hospitality earnings?
Many factors beyond your job title can affect your salary, including where you live and your employer.
Experience
Experience tends to have the greatest influence on your earning potential, especially if it's quantifiable and demonstrates success, says May Silvers, who worked as a director of catering and event planning at several luxury hotels before starting her own company, M2 Hospitality, in 2012.
"If you're in a sales position, and you have a degree from a hospitality school but you have no certification for the position and no proven record of the sales you've brought in previously, they won't offer you as high a pay rate," says Silvers. "With previous experience, an employer will compensate you more."
Another quantifiable example she cites is experience in a busy setting, such as a restaurant or hotel. "If you used to work or intern in a high-volume, high-end location, you (could) be paid a lot more," says Silvers, who started her career as a food and beverage trainee at the historic Raffles Hotel in Singapore.
Experience that you can quantify and that demonstrates success, such as in sales, can help you earn a higher salary than someone who's just starting out.
Education
Most hospitality manager positions typically require a bachelor's degree. The school you attend could play a role in your being hired for a position and could affect your salary as well. Any degrees that you get beyond a bachelor's degree can demonstrate that you're invested in your career and can equip you with specialized skills and knowledge. For instance, a master's degree in hospitality can help you move up into senior roles and qualify for positions that pay more.
Certification
Professional certifications can influence your salary because they demonstrate expertise in a field or specialty. There are many available in the hospitality industry, depending on our field or specialty. One of the most valued hospitality certifications is Certified Meeting Planner (CMP), says Silvers.
"As an event planner with a CMP certification—the most widely recognized certification—then even if you graduated from a regular school and have no work experience, that certification will put your foot in the door and give you more pay compared to someone who could be working in a junior position for a year without the CMP title," says Silvers.
Written and reported by:
Paige Cerulli
Contributing Writer
With professional insight from:
May Silvers
Owner, M2 Hospitality
