Lodging Managers: Career Overview
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that provides lodging and other accommodations.
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What Tasks Do Lodging Managers Perform?
Typical responsibilities of lodging managers span:
- Answer inquiries pertaining to hotel policies and services, and resolve occupants' complaints.
- Participate in financial activities, such as the setting of room rates, the establishment of budgets, and the allocation of funds to departments.
- Confer and cooperate with other managers to ensure coordination of hotel activities.
- Greet and register guests.
- Monitor the revenue activity of the hotel or facility.
- Manage and maintain temporary or permanent lodging facilities.
- Train staff members.
- Observe and monitor staff performance to ensure efficient operations and adherence to facility's policies and procedures.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective lodging managers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Lodging Managers Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Accommodations General Manager
- Accommodations Manager
- Agricultural Labor Camp Manager
- Apartment Coordinator
- Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
- Boardinghouse Keeper
- Camp Director
- Campground Manager
Job Outlook
There are about 191,530 lodging managers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +14.8% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Lodging Managers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $95,461 |
| Hourly median | $45.89 |
| 10th percentile | $65,448 |
| 25th percentile | $80,455 |
| 75th percentile | $110,467 |
| 90th percentile | $125,473 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Lodging Managers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $106,560 |
| Rhode Island | $104,840 |
| Colorado | $93,280 |
| Massachusetts | $89,330 |
| Washington | $86,890 |
| Alabama | $78,430 |
| Maryland | $77,750 |
| Nevada | $77,160 |
| California | $77,030 |
| New York | $76,740 |
| Vermont | $76,070 |
| Idaho | $75,990 |
| Arizona | $74,990 |
| Delaware | $74,910 |
| Minnesota | $74,190 |
| Connecticut | $74,120 |
| New Jersey | $73,460 |
| District of Columbia | $73,090 |
| Oregon | $71,990 |
| West Virginia | $71,930 |
| Alaska | $71,850 |
| Texas | $70,430 |
| Montana | $66,730 |
| Kansas | $66,650 |
| New Hampshire | $65,960 |
| Wisconsin | $64,890 |
| Florida | $64,320 |
| Maine | $64,280 |
| Wyoming | $64,250 |
| Utah | $64,160 |
| Virginia | $62,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,820 |
| Georgia | $61,580 |
| North Dakota | $61,210 |
| Indiana | $60,870 |
| South Carolina | $60,700 |
| North Carolina | $60,640 |
| Louisiana | $60,150 |
| South Dakota | $58,500 |
| Ohio | $58,420 |
| Illinois | $57,330 |
| Michigan | $57,000 |
| Missouri | $56,610 |
| New Mexico | $56,440 |
| Iowa | $55,500 |
| Kentucky | $49,480 |
| Tennessee | $49,380 |
| Nebraska | $49,360 |
| Oklahoma | $47,990 |
| Arkansas | $45,980 |
| Puerto Rico | $42,270 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for lodging managers vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountains | $80,953 | 5.3% | 2.75 |
| Far Western US | $78,067 | 19.5% | 1.17 |
| New England | $76,359 | 4.6% | 1.93 |
| Middle Atlantic | $74,425 | 13.4% | 1.02 |
| Southwest | $68,217 | 11.6% | 0.87 |
| Southeast | $61,972 | 29.3% | 1.30 |
| Plains States | $61,164 | 4.6% | 1.21 |
| Great Lakes | $60,297 | 11.2% | 0.98 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | HI | $111,710 | 60 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | WA | $105,470 | 30 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | RI | $103,250 | 120 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | CO | $97,740 | 440 |
| Napa, CA | CA | $97,520 | 70 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | TX | $96,060 | 840 |
| Boulder, CO | CO | $94,840 | 40 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $93,940 | 400 |
Top Industries Employing Lodging Managers
The bulk of lodging managers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and Food Services | 37,630 | $66,240 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 830 | $82,570 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 740 | $120,930 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 610 | $77,390 |
| Educational Services | 220 | $68,280 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 220 | $72,780 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 120 | $78,000 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 80 | $141,500 |
Below are examples of industries where lodging managers work:
Tech Stack
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Property management system PMS software (in demand)
Work Environment
The work environment for lodging managers tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Contact With Others
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Getting Started in This Career
Most lodging managers positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Facilities Managers (Primary-Short)
- Food Service Managers (Supplemental)
- Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling (Primary-Long)
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers (Primary-Short)
- Spa Managers (Primary-Short)
- Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners (Primary-Long)
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop (Supplemental)
- First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Aspiring lodging managers commonly pursue programs in:
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
6 programs across 1 majors
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 11-9081.00 (Lodging Managers).