Love Staying in Hotels? These 10 Jobs Are for You

It’s not vacation, but it’s close. Check in and give your career an upgrade with one of these hospitality jobs.

By Heather Buzbee, Monster contributor

Whether for business or pleasure, there’s something delightful about staying at a hotel—and not just because someone makes your bed for you every day. A top-notch hotel runs like a well-oiled machine, and that’s because behind the scenes, there are many people hustling in a variety of hotel jobs to maintain an impeccable image from top to bottom.

Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, Monster found 10 hotel jobs for you to "check out." (Unfortunately, you’ll have to make your own bed. Nothing we can do about that.)

General Manager

What you’d do: As in most other establishments, general managers oversee staff and daily operations to make sure all aspects of the hotel are running smoothly. They create employee schedules, resolve any issues guests may have and maintain inventory. If a hotel is a ship, the GM is the captain.
What you need: Several years of experience at a hotel are required. Some hotels will accept applicants with a high-school diploma or equivalency, but many larger hotels require managers to have a bachelor’s degree.
What you’d make: $53,390 per year

Find hotel manager jobs on Monster.

Sales Manager

What you’d do: Sales managers are responsible for increasing the number of guests who stay at the hotel, with the goal of filling every last room throughout the year. They focus not only on growing the number of individual guests and families, but they also reach out to groups, such as conventions, tours, and corporate clients.
What you need: This position requires a bachelor’s degree and work experience as a sales representative.
What you’d make: $124,220 per year

Find sales manager jobs on Monster.

Public Relations Specialist

What you’d do: Whether a hotel is part of a worldwide chain or is a boutique operation, it has the same goal: reservations. Public relations specialists create campaigns to promote the hotel for special events, seek out press coverage and craft the public image of the hotel. They also oversee media releases that inform people of the hotel’s latest developments and special offers.
What you need: Public relations specialists usually have a bachelor’s degree in either public relations, journalism, communications, English, or business.
What you’d make: $60,000 per year

Find public relations specialist jobs on Monster.

Front Desk Agent

What you’d do: Greeting guests, booking reservations, and accommodating any special requests fall under the purview of the front desk agents. Part receptionist, part concierge, they are at the ready to assist guests at all hours of the day and night.
What you need: A high-school diploma, strong communication skills, and on-the-job training are required. View this hotel front desk resume sample.
What you’d make: $22,850 per year

Find hotel reservationist jobs on Monster.

Porter

What you’d do: Generally the first people to greet guests upon arrival, porters and bellhops carry luggage as guests arrive and depart, and make sure that rooms meet guests’ approval.
What you need: This position requires a high-school diploma or equivalency.
What you’d make: $23,230 per year

Find porter jobs on Monster.

Security Guard

What you’d do: With so many people entering and leaving a hotel throughout the day and night, security guards are always on patrol. They protect the hotel and its guests from any dangerous or illegal activity, such as theft and vandalism.
What you need: This position requires a high-school diploma and short on-the-job training. Most states also require security guards to be registered, especially if they carry a weapon.
What you’d make: $28,530 per year

Find security guard jobs on Monster.

Kitchen and Restaurant Staff

What you’d do: Hotel restaurants are usually not exclusive to guests, meaning anyone can get a table. This can significantly increase the number of patrons that walk through the restaurant’s doors, especially if the food and service have a solid reputation. A hotel restaurant’s kitchen staff is kept busy serving diners and—depending on the hotel—room service orders.
What you need: Although some cooks attend culinary school, many learn through experience and on-the-job training. Likewise, waiters and waitresses only need to complete short on-the-job training. Both positions can be physically demanding, requiring hours of standing.
What you’d make: $25,200 per year for cooks; $21,780 per year for wait staff.

Find kitchen and restaurant staff jobs on Monster.

Housekeeping

What you’d do: Nothing quite racks up complaints and poor ratings like a dirty or untidy room. Housekeeping is a critical part of meeting (and exceeding) guests’ satisfaction, which can tip the scales in the hotel’s favor when a guest is deciding whether or not to return. Duties include refreshing linens and towels, cleaning the bathroom, and creating a tidy overall appearance.
What you need: All you need is brief on-the-job training. View this housekeeping resume sample.
What you’d make: $22,860 per year

Find housekeeping jobs on Monster.

Maintenance Staff

What you’d do: If a sink won’t drain or a light won’t turn on, you can bet the front desk will hear about it. When that happens, they call the maintenance staff. Any time plumbing, electrical systems, air-conditioning or heating systems are down, maintenance is responsible for quickly making repairs.
What you need: Maintenance workers need a high-school diploma or equivalency.
What you’d make: $38,300 per year

Find maintenance staff jobs on Monster.

Groundskeeper

What you’d do: Image-wise, the exterior of a hotel can be as effective at attracting guests as the accommodations themselves. It’s the groundskeepers’ responsibility to tend to the areas outside of the hotel so that landscaping is well maintained and the property is free of vandalism and trash.
What you need: Workers must be physically fit and willing to be outdoors in all weather conditions. Some hotels may require a certification in small-engine repair, landscaping or horticulture, and most states also require licenses for the use of certain pesticides and fertilizers.
What you’d make: $29,400 per year

Find groundskeeper jobs on Monster.

Find all hospitality jobs on Monster.

Enjoy a Five-Star Job Search

We're not a hotel, but we know the importance of service and the joy of having other people take care of stuff for you. Could you use some concierge-like help with your search for jobs at hotels? Make a free profile on Monster. We can send you jobs alerts and get you checked in and checked out with a new position before you know it.