Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks fall under the Office and Administrative Support category in the U.S. occupational classification. Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks earn a median salary of $34,270 per year, ranking in the top 97% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +3.7% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks earn?

The median annual wage for hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks is $34,270. That puts hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks at #789 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks is +3.7%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 264K positions in 2024 to 274K in 2034, a net change of 10K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.

What do hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Contact housekeeping or maintenance staff when guests report problems.
2. 2.Issue room keys and escort instructions to bellhops.
3. 3.Compute bills, collect payments, and make change for guests.
4. 4.Deposit guests' valuables in hotel safes or safe-deposit boxes.
5. 5.Greet, register, and assign rooms to guests of hotels or motels.
6. 6.Record guest comments or complaints, referring customers to managers as necessary.
7. 7.Advise housekeeping staff when rooms have been vacated and are ready for cleaning.
8. 8.Verify customers' credit, and establish how the customer will pay for the accommodation.

Top skills for hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become hotel, motel, and resort desk clerk?

Many hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks enter the field with a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, though employers increasingly favor candidates with certifications or some postsecondary coursework. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
  $74,260 median
• First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
  $66,140 median
• Brokerage Clerks
  $62,940 median
• Postal Service Clerks
  $61,630 median
• Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
  $57,770 median
• Postal Service Mail Carriers
  $57,490 median

Common questions parents ask about hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks