Before you decide to pursue your degree, it’s important to consider both the hospitality management salary and the job outlook potential. This may vary depending on where you live and which type of company you work for, among other factors.
Hospitality management salary and career paths
To get you started, we’ll take a look at the potential hospitality management salary and job outlooks for four different occupations – lodging managers, food services managers, gaming managers and meeting, convention and event planners.
Lodging Managers
Lodging managers held approximately 50, 400 jobs in the U.S. in 2012 and more than 50% were employed in the travel accommodation industry.[i] They may work in places like hotels, motels or resorts.
Median annual salary: $46,810[ii]
Job outlook, 2012-22: 1%
Food Service Managers
As of 2012, food services managers held about 321,400 jobs and 40% were self-employed.[iii] Food service managers may work in restaurants or for hotels, catering and other establishments.
Median annual salary: $47, 960[iv]
Job outlook, 2012-22: 2%
Gaming Managers (gaming services occupations)
Workers in gaming services occupations held around 182, 200 in the U.S. in 2012.[v] Gaming services jobs may exist in commercial casinos, casino hotels, riverboat casinos, racetracks and Native American casinos, depending on the state.
Median annual salary: $20, 2010[vi]
Job outlook, 2012-22: 10%
Meeting, Convention and Event Planners
Meeting, convention and event planners held approximately 94,200 jobs in the U.S. in 2012.[vii] They may travel regularly and work on-site at hotels or convention centers during events.
Median annual salary: $45, 810 [viii]
Job outlook, 2012-22: 33% (much faster than average)
[i] bls.gov/ooh/management/lodging-managers.htm#tab-3 | [ii] bls.gov/ooh/management/lodging-managers.htm#tab-1 | [iii] bls.gov/ooh/management/food-service-managers.htm#tab-3 | [iv] bls.gov/ooh/management/food-service-managers.htm#tab-1 | [v] bls.gov/ooh/personal-care-and-service/gaming-services-occupations.htm#tab-3 | [vi] bls.gov/ooh/personal-care-and-service/gaming-services-occupations.htm#tab-1 | [vii] bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/meeting-convention-and-event-planners.htm#tab-3 | [viii] bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/meeting-convention-and-event-planners.htm#tab-1