| Hospitality Manager Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Job Outlook | 11% |
If you’re great with people and a natural problem solver, then you might like to become a hospitality manager.
You’ll need to be an outgoing person, as a lot of your time will be spend dealing with customers or guests.
You’ll also need to be an effective worker, be able to get a task done quickly and efficiently, and also be able to motivate other staff.
When you become a hospitality manager, there are many different fields you may work in.
For instance you could work in a hotel, a restaurant, a casino, or even on a cruise ship.
Many people who work in the higher ranks of hospitality have experience in more than one industry.
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Education Requirements to Become a Hospitality Manager
An entry level job in hospitality does not require a college degree.
Depending on what state you live in, you may need to complete licenses or gain certification for certain types of work.
For instance, if you wanted to work in a casino you may need a certificate to working within the gambling industry.
Working with food needs certification, as does serving alcohol.
If you have ambitions to become a hospitality manager, you will get the best opportunities by completing a four year hospitality management degree, tourism degree, or in a related area.
Alternatively, you could gain a college from a specialist hospitality school.
Many of these schools run one and two year programs in areas such as accommodation management, food serving and preparation, and ticketing and tourism.
When you decide to become a hospitality manager, you best starting point is at an entry level job.
Working for a large organization such as an inner city hotel or a casino will give you plenty of opportunities to work in different sectors, as well as opportunities for promotion.
Work hard, and let your supervisors know of your career intentions.
Hospitality Manager Job Description
A hospitality manager works in a supervisory position in a industry where a service is being provided to guests.
Hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars, and casinos all fall under the umbrella of the hospitality industry.
Some parts of the travel industry are also seen as hospitality related.
As a hospitality manager, your role will be to organize and manage a restaurant, hotel, or similar establishment.
You could find yourself supervising staff and delegating roles, while also being in charge of recruiting and training new staff.
Promotions and marketing could also be a part of your role.
Difficult problems will be escalated to yourself, and you may also need to lend a hand in different departments when the need arises.
When you become a hospitality manager you may also be responsible for financial reporting.
This could involve completing monthly reports on performance, and making plans for improvements.
Here are some of the duties of a hospitality manager:
- Working with customers or guests
- Directing housekeeping and cleaners
- Delegating duties to staff
- Recruiting and training new staff
- Performance reviews
- Financial reporting
- Marketing and promotion
- Setting schedules
- Organizing maintenance
- Administrative duties
Hospitality Manager Salary and Career Path
When you decide to become a hospitality manager, your career will likely begin in an entry level role.
You’ll need to work hard to be promoted, and show that you are serious about your career.
With time you can expect to climb the ranks and eventually become a manager.
Hospitality managers can advance to large chains, or may go on to work in a national office.
They may go on to less hands-on roles in management.
The median wage for a hospitality manager is $45,000 a year.
The middle 50% in this role earn between $35,000 and $62,000 a year.
The top 10% of earners make more than $84,000 a year.
Some similar roles to that of hospitality manager include:
Working as a hospitality manager is a good choice of career if you want to make a good salary that does not necessarily require a lot of education beforehand.
If you’re willing to put in some hard work, and climb your way up to the top, then this might be a good choice of career for you.
The below information is based on the 2023 BLS national averages.
National Average Salary
$40,230Average Salary by State
| State | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $31,880 |
| Alaska | $33,240 |
| Arizona | $36,370 |
| Arkansas | $30,060 |
| California | $43,010 |
| Colorado | $44,660 |
| Connecticut | $36,290 |
| District of Columbia | $39,970 |
| Florida | $37,510 |
| Georgia | $33,980 |
| Hawaii | $52,390 |
| Illinois | $42,450 |
| Iowa | $32,300 |
| Kansas | $35,590 |
| Kentucky | $29,820 |
| Louisiana | $33,310 |
| Maine | $38,620 |
| Maryland | $37,890 |
| Massachusetts | $42,990 |
| Michigan | $35,840 |
| Minnesota | $40,010 |
| Mississippi | $31,030 |
| Missouri | $31,990 |
| Montana | $34,510 |
| Nebraska | $38,940 |
| Nevada | $40,090 |
| New Hampshire | $33,160 |
| New Jersey | $36,070 |
| New Mexico | $37,030 |
| New York | $50,700 |
| North Carolina | $34,930 |
| Ohio | $32,620 |
| Oklahoma | $28,090 |
| Oregon | $38,320 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,360 |
| South Carolina | $37,070 |
| Tennessee | $32,000 |
| Texas | $36,050 |
| Utah | $36,660 |
| Vermont | $43,300 |
| Virginia | $35,170 |
| Washington | $42,530 |
| West Virginia | $38,070 |
| Wisconsin | $35,520 |
| Wyoming | $39,960 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,580 |
The top earning state in the field is Hawaii, where the average salary is $52,390.
These are the top 5 highest-paying states in the field:
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a hospitality manager?
A hospitality manager is someone who has a supervisory role in a restaurant or hotel.
The exact responsibilities of a hospitality manager depend on the industry where they work.
For example, lodging managers have to inspect hotel rooms and public areas to ensure that the company standards for housekeeping are met, interview and hire hotel staff and monitor their performance.
Hotel managers are also responsible for setting room rates and budgets.
Restaurant managers supervise the activities that take place in a restaurant; they deal with customer service issues and ensure that the food quality standards are met.
The exact tasks a manager has to perform also depend on the size of the hotel or restaurant.
Larger hotels, for instance, hire more managers, each one specializing in a particular field.
How much does a hospitality manager make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for lodging managers was $53,390, as of May 2018.
The median annual wage for food service managers was $54,240 in May 2018.
Salaries in the hospitality field, in general, depend on a wide range of factors, including the size of the establishment and the local economy.
Managers of larger hotels and upscale restaurants typically earn more than those who work for small bed and breakfasts or fast foods.
How much does it cost to become a hospitality manager?
The exact education requirements depend on the employer.
Lodging managers usually need at least an associate’s degree or a certificate in hotel management but a high school diploma and a few years of experience in the hospitality industry can also help you get promoted to a management position.
An associate’s degree program can cost you anywhere between a little over $10,000-$12,000 and more than $80,000, depending on the school you choose and the program itself.
A four-year bachelor’s degree program will cost you, on average, around $45,000, but tuition costs vary widely depending on the college and the program you choose.
What is the demand for hospitality managers?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for lodging managers is expected to show little or no change in the next years.
Employment for food service managers, on the other hand, is expected to grow 11 percent from 2018 to 2028.
This growth is explained, in part, by population and income growth; as more people prefer to dine out, more restaurants and food establishments will open and more managers will be needed to run them.
How long does it take to become a hospitality manager?
Hospitality managers typically hold a bachelor’s degree or associate’s degree in hospitality management but there are also other career paths that can help you become a restaurant or hotel manager.
Holding a high school diploma and having a few years of experience in the field can be enough in some cases.
Some restaurant managers are graduates of a culinary school or trade school, so vocational training may also be a good choice.
Regardless of the path you choose, you will usually need a few years of experience working in the hospitality field before being promoted to a management position.
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