Hospitality management is a catchall term for a number of different occupation specialties, including gaming, catering and lodge managers. The education, duties, training requirements and job outlook, as well as remuneration, are among the aspects that vary between positions.
Essential Information
A hospitality manager's salary depends upon the career path chosen. A career in hospitality management means a career in service. These individuals can work directly with customers or behind the scenes to ensure pleasurable experiences for guests or clients. Regardless of the field, a hospitality manager must be able to oversee a group of workers and delegate tasks while maintaining customer satisfaction.
| Career | Lodging Manager | Gaming Manager | Catering Manager |
| Education Requirements | Bachelor's degree in hospitality or hotel management | High school diploma; undergraduate degree may be necessary | High school diploma; undergraduate degree may be necessary |
| Other Requirements | Customer service skills | Previous experience in management or as a gaming supervisor; state licensure | Prior food service experience |
| Projected Job Growth (2019-2029) | -12%* | 9%* | 1% (for food service managers)* |
| Median Salary | $56,670 (2020)* | $75,470 (2020)* | $46,930 (2021)** |
Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, **PayScale.com
Career Descriptions
Many different types of hospitality careers exist. Some potential positions include lodging manager, gaming manager and catering manager.
Lodging Manager Career Information
Most lodging managers work in hotels and motels, but other types of lodging exist, including inns, boarding houses and hostels. Within these different forms of lodging exist different types of lodging managers. Front office managers are typically responsible for training new hires, supervising staff, and organizing reservations and room assignments. Convention services managers work with all hotel departments to arrange meetings, banquets, presentations and other events. Some lodging managers work with marketing or accounting teams and share responsibility for the hotel's profitability. Job duties vary considerably depending upon the level of management.
Lodging Manager Salary Information
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the median annual wage for lodging managers was $56,670 in May 2020. Job growth was expected to decline by 12%.
Gaming Manager Career Information
The BLS defines gaming as the playing of games with inherent risk. A well-known example of this is casino gaming. Gaming managers oversee game rooms, hire and train new casino employees, address customer complaints and explain game rules to customers. As with other hospitality managers, it is the job of a gaming manager to ensure that guests have a pleasurable experience.
Gaming Manager Salary Information
According to the BLS, the median annual salary for gaming managers was $75,470 in May 2020. Job opportunities for gaming managers are expected to increase much faster than average at 9% over the 2019-2029 time period.
Catering Manager Career Information
Catering managers work directly with clients to help coordinate catered events. These individuals help clients decide how much and which types of food to serve and negotiate contracts with vendors to complete preparations. A catering manager must ensure that clients are happy throughout every stage of the contract and perform follow-ups to ensure a steady flow of business.
Catering Manager Salary Information
According to PayScale.com, catering managers earned a median salary of $46,930 as of June 2021. Pay rates varied depending upon the type of establishment or client the catering manager worked for.
Depending on the type of management and establishment, the outlook for hospitality management positions for the foreseeable future varies. An undergraduate degree and applicable work experience are a plus. An ability to deal effectively with behind the scenes operations and well as front of the house duties will stand you in good stead.
