Hotel work is one of the widest entry points into the global labour market, spanning front desk, housekeeping, food and beverage, maintenance, events, and senior management. Across the United States, the traveler-accommodation industry employed nearly 1.7 million people in May 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), yet annual average wages of $39,730 sat well below the all-industry average of $61,900. This article lays out the main hotel staff roles, typical salaries, career paths, and the persistent labour shortages that define the sector today, drawing on job-market data from government agencies and industry bodies.

Last checked: 2026-10-03

Australia-wide hotel staff vacancies (SEEK): 2,873 · Hotel staff vacancies in Sydney (SEEK): 664 · Hotelstaff Pty Ltd operating since: 1987 (39 years) · Hotelstaff Facebook community: 983 likes

How we researched this

We did not conduct on-site visits to hotels or recruitment agencies, nor did we carry out primary salary surveys or staff interviews. […]

  • Nearly 1.7 million workers employed in the U.S. traveler-accommodation industry as of May 2022 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Average annual wage
  • $39,730 per year in 2022 — well below the all-industry average of $61,900 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
  • 68% of EU accommodation and food-services workers held qualifications above their role in 2023, versus 22% across all sectors (European Labour Authority)
Key hotel staff facts at a glance
traveler-accommodation employment (May 2022) Nearly 1.7 million workers
industry annual average wage (2022) $39,730
all-industry average wage comparison (2022) $61,900

The BLS groups accommodation occupations into categories that span front office, housekeeping, food and beverage preparation and service, building […]

In the United States, the traveler-accommodation industry recorded an annual average wage of $39,730 in 2022, translating to roughly $3,310 per month before taxes — significantly below the all-industry average of $61,900 per year ($5,158 […]

A survey cited by Euronews found that 17% of independent European accommodations […]

Housekeeping and front-desk roles typically fall near the minimum-wage floor, while senior management positions can pay two to three times the average. […]

The BLS data shows that lodging managers earned median hourly pay of $32.27 in the U.S., roughly double the rate of entry-level front-desk or housekeeping roles. […]

Note: The European hospitality sector added approximately 1.2 million jobs between 2015 and 2024, growing from about 9 million to 10 million employees across the EU27, according to HOTREC. […]

The European hospitality sector, employing about 10 million people, was still missing roughly 10% of its workforce on average as of early 2026, according to HOTREC. […]

The European Labour Authority (ELA) identified chefs, cooks, and waiters as "commonly cited shortage […] according to the European Labour Authority.

industry average of $39,730 per year, well below the all-industry average, makes it difficult for hotels to compete for labour with retail, logistics, and other service sectors. […]

A Booking.com survey […]

The BLS groups accommodation roles into front office, housekeeping, food and beverage, maintenance, sales, and administration.