What Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks do
The U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET database describes the work of Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks this way: "Accommodate hotel, motel, and resort patrons by registering and assigning rooms to guests, issuing room keys or cards, transmitting and receiving messages, keeping records of occupied rooms and guests' accounts, making and confirming reservations, and presenting statements to and collecting payments from departing guests."
The core tasks O*NET records for this occupation include: "Greet, register, and assign rooms to guests of hotels or motels"; "Verify customers' credit, and establish how the customer will pay for the accommodation"; "Keep records of room availability and guests' accounts, manually or using computers"; "Compute bills, collect payments, and make change for guests"; "Issue room keys and escort instructions to bellhops".
Education, experience and training
According to the BLS Employment Projections, the typical education needed to enter this occupation is high school diploma or equivalent. Typical on-the-job training to reach competency is short-term on-the-job training.
Job outlook for Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 264,600 jobs in this occupation in 2025 and projects 269,500 in 2035, an increase of 4,900 jobs (+1.8%). That is slower than the 3.5% projected for all occupations.
About 35,500 openings a year are projected on average, counting both new positions and positions vacated by workers who retire or switch occupations. Relative to today's employment that is 13.4% a year, against 10.3% for all occupations. BLS lists a national median annual wage of $35,070, compared with $50,980 for all occupations.
Where Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks earn the most
Across the 4 states with published data, the employment-weighted average of local median wages for this occupation ranges from $35,177 in Florida to $41,034 in New York, a gap of $5,856 (1.17 times). 4 of those 4 states average above the BLS national median of $35,070 and 0 average at or below it.
California employs the most people in this occupation among the states covered, 27,430, which is 35.8% of the 76,580 counted across them. Florida follows with 23,180.
Highest-paying states
New York ($41,034), New Jersey ($40,715) and California ($39,618) lead the ranking, while Florida ($35,177) and California ($39,618) are at the bottom. The table below lists every state with a link to its county-level detail.
Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks: pay against the cost of living
We compare 4 labor markets, each represented by its most populous county. After federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics (a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline), the largest yearly margin is in Bergen County, NJ (New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ) at $4,892. The weakest market is Kings County, NY, where the basics cost $5,599 more than take-home pay.
The median wage for this occupation covers all four basics in 1 of the 4 markets and falls short in 3. A one-bedroom apartment takes between 65.8% and 92.8% of take-home pay, depending on the market.
Occupations related to Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks
Other occupations in the same SOC minor group (43-4000) include Brokerage Clerks, Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs, Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping and Court, Municipal, and License Clerks.
Frequently asked questions about Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks
How much do Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks earn in the United States?
BLS lists a national median annual wage of $35,070. Across the states covered here the average local median ranges from $35,177 to $41,034.
Which state pays Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks the most?
New York, with an employment-weighted average local median wage of $41,034. New Jersey is next at $40,715.
Is Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks a growing occupation?
BLS projects employment to grow by 1.8% between 2025 and 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 35,500 openings a year.
What education do Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks need?
The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent and short-term on-the-job training, according to BLS.
Where can Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks afford to live best?
Among the markets covered, Bergen County, NJ leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes, rent, food, energy and gasoline: $4,892 on a median wage of $43,490.