How much does a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerk make?
The median hotel, motel, and resort desk clerk in the United States earns $34,270 per year, about $16.48 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 43-4081.
Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerk salary range
Pay for hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $26,600 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $44,720. The average (mean) wage of $34,740 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $26,600 | $12.79 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $29,210 | $14.05 | |
| Median (50th) | $34,270 | $16.48 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $37,430 | $17.99 | |
| 90th percentile | $44,720 | $21.50 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks (SOC 43-4081), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerk salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks earn the most in Hawaii at $58,740 a year, and the least in West Virginia at $26,590. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $58,740 | 2,870 |
| District of Columbia | $44,640 | 1,330 |
| California | $39,200 | 27,500 |
| Washington | $38,930 | 5,750 |
| New York | $38,870 | 10,150 |
| Vermont | $38,820 | 620 |
| Massachusetts | $38,490 | 4,050 |
| Nevada | $37,960 | 5,030 |
| Maine | $37,760 | 1,690 |
| Rhode Island | $37,500 | 690 |
| New Jersey | $37,260 | 4,620 |
| Colorado | $36,370 | 5,200 |
| Oregon | $36,270 | 4,350 |
| New Hampshire | $36,230 | 890 |
| Connecticut | $36,150 | 1,570 |
| Minnesota | $35,990 | 4,660 |
| Alaska | $35,940 | 700 |
| Arizona | $35,570 | 5,910 |
| Delaware | $35,420 | 680 |
| Montana | $35,160 | 2,480 |
| Maryland | $34,810 | 4,170 |
| Illinois | $34,280 | 6,620 |
| Utah | $34,270 | 3,540 |
| Idaho | $34,100 | 1,970 |
| Florida | $33,940 | 22,130 |
| Wisconsin | $33,850 | 4,910 |
| North Dakota | $33,840 | 1,660 |
| Michigan | $33,290 | 6,540 |
| Missouri | $33,070 | 4,750 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,850 | 7,840 |
| Wyoming | $30,800 | 1,090 |
| Virginia | $30,770 | 7,030 |
| Indiana | $30,490 | 4,560 |
| Nebraska | $30,280 | 1,790 |
| Iowa | $30,250 | 2,990 |
| North Carolina | $30,050 | 8,470 |
| South Dakota | $29,790 | 1,760 |
| Ohio | $29,760 | 6,090 |
| Kansas | $29,360 | 2,160 |
| South Carolina | $29,250 | 5,850 |
| Texas | $29,230 | 23,420 |
| Tennessee | $29,200 | 6,400 |
| New Mexico | $28,770 | 2,830 |
| Alabama | $28,260 | 3,840 |
| Georgia | $28,170 | 9,170 |
| Kentucky | $27,930 | 3,980 |
| Arkansas | $27,790 | 2,670 |
| Oklahoma | $27,370 | 3,270 |
| Louisiana | $27,240 | 4,830 |
| Mississippi | $26,720 | 2,710 |
| West Virginia | $26,590 | 1,730 |
State median wages for hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks (SOC 43-4081), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
The BLS projects employment of hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks to grow 1.8% from 2025 to 2035. That is slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 264,600 jobs in 2025 moving toward 269,500 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 35,500 openings a year for hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerk
The typical entry-level education for hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerk earns
Employer, industry, seniority, and metro area drive pay. Large organizations and high cost cities pay above small offices and entry-level roles.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Hawaii, $58,740) and the lowest (West Virginia, $26,590) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 261,430 people work as hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks in the United States. At $34,270 a year, the job pays below the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerk salary FAQ
How much does a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerk make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerk is $16.48. The middle half of hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks earn between $14.05 and $17.99 per hour.
What is the highest hotel, motel, and resort desk clerk salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks earn more than $44,720 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerk make a year?
The median annual salary for a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerk is $34,270. The average (mean) wage of $34,740 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerk a well paid job?
At $34,270 a year, a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerk earns below the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 261,430 people work as hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks in the United States.
Which state pays hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks the most?
Hawaii has the highest median salary for hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks at $58,740 a year. District of Columbia ($44,640) and California ($39,200) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerk a good career?
Employment of hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks is projected to grow 1.8% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 35,500 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerk?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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