How much does a hotel manager make?
a year · about $33 an hour
A typical hotel manager in the United States makes $69,250 a year, about $33 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They check rooms and public areas for cleanliness, then juggle staff schedules, reservations, and budgets. They solve guest problems and coordinate teams such as the front desk and housekeeping.
Did you know? Some U.S. hotel managers are on call at any hour because hotels stay open around the clock.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $40,070 and $128,880How do you become one?
In the U.S., you can qualify with a high school diploma and several years of lodging work, or by studying hotel management for an associate degree, certificate, or bachelor’s degree. A registered apprenticeship is another route from age 18, combining work-based learning with lessons.
School needed: Usually a bachelor's degree
Good for people who like leading and selling and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can vary with experience and responsibility, the property’s size and services, its location, and its type: a large resort or convention hotel is different from a small inn. Industry certificates may help; schedules can include nights, weekends, holidays, or on-call time.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Colorado ($91,750), lowest in Ohio ($48,690).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
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Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,070 | $69,250 | $128,880 | about 43,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $91,750 | about 1,000 |
| New York | $79,460 | about 3,000 |
| Arizona | $77,670 | about 680 |
| California | $76,950 | about 5,000 |
| Wisconsin | $73,590 | about 1,000 |
Official definition: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that provides lodging and other accommodations. Excludes “Food Service Managers” (11-9051) in lodging establishments.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/management/lodging-managers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/11-9081.00
- www.bls.gov/ooh/management/print/lodging-managers.htm
- www.ahlafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Lodging-Manager-Apprenticeship
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY