Who Earns What

How much does a hotel manager make?

US Lodging Managers
$69,250

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 know
This job$69,250
Typical worker$50,980
Elementary teacher$63,970
Doctor$244,180
Cashier$32,880

If 100 people had this job

Most earn between $40,070 and $128,880
49 of 100
not many

How 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
Whole US$69,250
Colorado$91,750
New York$79,460
Arizona$77,670
California$76,950
Wisconsin$73,590
Illinois$61,530
Georgia$61,060
Ohio$48,690

Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.

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Who earns more?
Data table and sources
Hotel manager pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread) — Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lower earner (10th from bottom)Typical person (median)Higher earner (10th from top)People in this job
$40,070$69,250$128,880about 43,000
States where hotel managers earn the most (median, May 2025)
StateTypical person (median)People in this job
Colorado$91,750about 1,000
New York$79,460about 3,000
Arizona$77,670about 680
California$76,950about 5,000
Wisconsin$73,590about 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

Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY