How to Become a Hotel Manager (Lodging)
Lead a hotel or resort: guest experience, occupancy, staff, and the operations that keep it all running. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $69,250 per year and about average projected job growth.
Median pay
$69,250/yr
Middle half
$49,530 to $94,030
Job growth
About average
Openings / yr
5,400
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Hotel Operations
- Revenue Management
- Guest Relations
- Staff Leadership
- Problem Solving
Helpful certifications
- CHA (Certified Hotel Administrator)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
1/100
Work-life balance
59/100
Stress level
65/100
Related careers
- Food Service Manager$69,390 median
- Chef / Head Cook$62,470 median
- Event Planner$61,160 median
- Tour Guide$38,120 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Hotel Manager (Lodging) make?
The median pay for a Hotel Manager (Lodging) is $69,250 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $49,530 and $94,030 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Hotel Manager (Lodging)?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Hospitality Management, Business Administration, and Tourism Management.
Is Hotel Manager (Lodging) a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is about average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 5,400 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Hotel Manager (Lodging) use most?
Common skills for this role are Hotel Operations, Revenue Management, Guest Relations, Staff Leadership, and Problem Solving.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).