In 2011, entry-level hotel and restaurant managers can earn upwards of $28,000 per year.
The hospitality industry offers a variety of positions for individuals with food service management and administrative skills. Two of the more common positions within the industry include hotel and restaurant management. If you are an experienced hotel or restaurant worker, you might be able to land a hotel or restaurant management job with a favorable starting salary and room for advancement.
Broad Statistics
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics grouped hotel and restaurant managers with "Food Service Managers" and "Lodging Managers" in its 2010-11 Occupational Outlook Handbook. According to the BLS, in May of 2008 lodging managers earned an average median yearly salary of about $45,800, and food service managers earned around $46,320. The lowest-paid 10 percent for each position--including entry-level salaries--was between $28,160 and $29,450 per year. Reports also indicated an increase in salary of more than $8,000 annually for managers of full-service restaurants as opposed to limited-service restaurants.
Hotel Management
Indeed career and salary website offers estimates for hotel management salaries that are comparable to BLS statistics for both food service and lodging managers. At the time of publication, Indeed estimated the median average hotel management salary to be around $44,000 per year. PayScale provides more detailed information, reporting that the salary range for such positions ranged from $28,840 to $108,386, indicating that starting salaries are likely to be near $28,000 annually for entry-level positions; a figure consistent with BLS estimates.
Restaurant Management
According to PayScale, the average salary range for restaurant managers in 2011 is between $21,696 and $53,607 per year. The lower-end figures (starting salaries) indicated that the base salary for position holders was around $27,261 per year. In addition to the base salary, statistics showed an additional earning potential of more than $500 per year, which included $393.97 in bonuses and $146.81 in profit sharing.
Variances
How much you might expect to earn as a hotel restaurant manager may vary slightly according to several factors, such as location, position title and the company you work for. PayScale reports that in 2011, the average median salary for an assistant hotel manager--an entry-level management position--is about $35,524. Many hotels and restaurants offer catering and banquet services, and as a catering sales manager you might earn $40,281 per year. Your starting salary may also differ depending on who your employer is. According to PayScale, of five major hotel and restaurant chains surveyed--Holiday Inn, Hyatt, Starwood, Marriott and Hilton--starting management salaries ranged between $25,359 and $39,570 per year. Your geographical location may have a considerable impact on your take-home salary as well. According to CB Salary, the average income for hotel managers in Huntsville, Alabama, is more than $25,000 less than the national average, while position holders in Las Vegas, Nevada, can earn up to $90,000 above average.
Benefits
Whether you are a hotel manager, a restaurant manager, or the manager of a hotel-restaurant, you might have a good chance of receiving a favorable benefits package to accompany your annual salary. At the time of publication, PayScale reports that out of more than 4,000 surveyed, about 64 percent of hotel managers and at least 60 percent of restaurant managers were offered medical benefits from employers. Between 46 and 50 percent took advantage of dental insurance, and between 33 and 37 percent had vision plans.
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