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Career

Lodging Managers

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeHigh pressure

What they do

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that provides lodging and other accommodations.

Kinds of work

  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $69,250 Median per year · $33.29/hr Most earn $40,070–$128,880

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Perform marketing and public relations activities.
  • Participate in financial activities, such as the setting of room rates, the establishment of budgets, and the allocation of funds to departments.
  • Develop and implement policies and procedures for the operation of a department or establishment.
  • Coordinate front-office activities of hotels or motels, and resolve problems.
  • Train staff members.
  • Organize and coordinate the work of staff and convention personnel for meetings to be held at a particular facility.

Job outlook

United States
4% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 5,500 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Self-employed (their own business)20.7%
  • RV (recreational vehicle) parks and recreational camps3.6%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Lodging managers usually need a bachelor's degree plus about 2 to 4 years of hands-on hotel or hospitality experience, so this is not a job you start straight out of school. Most people work their way up from front-line roles while they study or after they graduate.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Build a solid base in math, writing, and speaking, and get any customer-facing work you can, since hotels value people skills.

  2. Bachelor's degree in hospitality management or business

    4 years

    A degree gives you training in hotel operations, budgeting, and guest services, and it is the education level most employers expect for this role.

  3. Hotel Front Desk Clerk

    1-2 years

    You learn reservations, check-in, guest problem-solving, and how a property runs day to day, which is the foundation for management.

  4. Assistant Hotel Manager

    1-2 years

    You take on supervising staff, handling schedules, managing budgets, and filling in for managers, which builds the experience employers look for.

  5. Lodging Manager

    Career

    You plan and direct the work of a hotel or other lodging property, overseeing staff, guest satisfaction, finances, and daily operations.

Where it can lead

  1. General Manager

    3-5 years of experience first

    You become responsible for the whole property's profit, staffing, and brand standards, usually with more authority over budgets and hiring.

  2. Director of Hotel Operations

    5+ years of experience first

    You oversee several properties or a region, which means strategy, larger budgets, and leading other managers rather than one building.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and a business or economics classBudgeting and pricing are big parts of running a lodging property, so strong math and business basics help early.
  • Get a part-time job in customer serviceWorking at a restaurant, store, or front desk teaches you how to handle guests and stay calm under pressure.
  • Join a business, marketing, or leadership clubClubs like these let you practice public speaking, teamwork, and planning events, all useful for managing a property.
  • Volunteer at community or school eventsHelping organize events builds scheduling, coordination, and people skills that transfer directly to hotel management.
  • Practice speaking and writing clearlyLodging managers talk with guests, staff, and owners every day, so clear communication matters a lot.

In college

  • Major in hospitality management or businessThese majors cover hotel operations, finance, and guest service, which matches what the bachelor's degree requirement points to for this career.
  • Get an internship at a hotel or resortReal experience at a property lets you see how managers run things and gives you work history for later job applications.
  • Take a campus job in dining, events, or conference servicesWorking in these areas builds hands-on skills in scheduling, guest service, and handling busy periods.
  • Earn a food safety or responsible service certificationMany lodging employers value these certifications because properties serve food and drinks, and they are often inexpensive and quick to finish.
  • Join a hospitality or event planning student groupStudent organizations give you leadership roles, networking with professionals, and practice running real events.

Tips for getting started

  • Get a job at a hotel, motel, or resort front desk early, even part-time. Hands-on experience is a big part of what lodging employers look for.
  • Pick a bachelor's program in hospitality or business and look for courses in accounting, marketing, and customer service. These skills show up in almost every lodging manager job.
  • Keep track of your work: note any times you handled guest complaints, scheduled staff, or led a team. You will need to describe this experience when you apply.

Related jobs that often lead here

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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