Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks

Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed

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.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $35,070/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$27,120$45,470

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: +3.7% projected growth, 2024–2034 — about as fast as average.

About 43,600 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills

Social PerceptivenessSpeakingService OrientationActive ListeningCoordinationReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingTime Management

Top knowledge areas

Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguagePublic Safety and SecurityAdministrativeComputers and ElectronicsAdministration and ManagementMathematicsSales and Marketing

Core tasks

• Greet, register, and assign rooms to guests of hotels or motels.

• Contact housekeeping or maintenance staff when guests report problems.

• Issue room keys and escort instructions to bellhops.

• Make and confirm reservations.

• 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.

• Post charges, such as those for rooms, food, liquor, or telephone calls, to ledgers, manually or by using computers.

• Review accounts and charges with guests during the check out process.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks?

The median pay for Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks is $35,070 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks?

Employment for Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks is projected to change +3.7% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.

What education is typically required for Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks?

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

How many job openings are there each year for Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks?

About 43,600 openings per year, on average, over the decade.