21 Hospitality Jobs: Entry-Level to Advanced + High-Paying Roles

Key takeaways

• While many industries focus on making and selling products, hospitality is more concerned with delivering services or experiences.

• A hospitality job involves working at a service-oriented business, such as a hotel, spa, restaurant, resort, casino, theme park, or convention center.

• Because services now comprise a large portion of the US economy, there’s a high demand for hospitality roles at all experience levels, and advancing in these careers can pay well.

Learn more about different hospitality careers you can explore by experience level, as well as high-paying roles to consider. Afterward, strengthen key hospitality skills in customer service, communication, and more with a Coursera Plus subscription.

Build job-ready skills with Coursera Plus

Start 7-day free trial

• 
• 
• 
• 

Start 7-day free trial

13 hospitality careers by experience level

Whether you're looking for your first job or are hoping to advance to a managerial position, there are numerous opportunities to explore within hospitality.

Entry-level hospitality careers

For entry-level positions in hospitality, candidates typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, though some employers may prefer an associate or bachelor's degree in hospitality management or a related field.

Little to no professional experience is usually required, but internships or part-time work in the hospitality industry can be beneficial. Strong interpersonal skills, basic computer proficiency, and a customer-service orientation are often essential.

• Front desk agent: A front desk agent is the first point of contact for guests at a hotel, resort, or spa. They are responsible for check-ins, check-outs, and addressing guest inquiries. They manage reservations, assign rooms, provide information about hotel services and local attractions, and ensure a smooth and welcoming experience for all guests.

• Server or bartender: Servers and bartenders work in restaurants, bars, and other food service establishments, taking orders, preparing and serving food and drinks to customers. They play a crucial role in ensuring customer satisfaction by providing friendly and efficient service, making recommendations, and maintaining a clean and organized work area.

• Housekeeper: Housekeepers are responsible for maintaining cleanliness and orderliness in hotels, resorts, or other lodging facilities. Their duties include cleaning and tidying guest rooms, replenishing supplies, changing linens, and ensuring that all areas of the property meet hygiene and presentation standards.

• Catering assistant: Catering assistants work for catering companies that prepare and serve event meals. Special skills needed for this position include knowledge of food preparation, food service, and food safety. You'll also need good time management and customer service skills. 

• Tour guide: As a tour guide, you'll provide visitors or travelers with information about a particular place or a group of places. Examples include museums, government buildings, historic sites, parks, neighborhoods, and whole towns or cities.

Associate-level hospitality careers

Jobs at this level usually require a bachelor's degree in hospitality management, business administration, or a related field, and at least two or three years of experience in the hospitality industry.

Candidates at this level are expected to have a solid understanding of industry operations, some supervisory experience, and may need specialized knowledge in areas like food and beverage management, event planning, or revenue management. Professional certifications can be advantageous at this stage.

• Assistant hotel manager: An assistant hotel manager supports the general manager in overseeing the daily operations of a hotel, including staff supervision, guest services, and financial management. They often take charge of specific departments or functions within the hotel, helping to implement policies, resolve issues, and ensure that the property maintains high standards of service and efficiency.

• Event coordinator: Event coordinators assist event planners in consulting with clients about their event needs, booking event sites, hiring caterers and other vendors for clients and negotiating their contracts, overseeing staff, supervising event setup and breakdown.

• Concierge: A concierge is a hotel staff member dedicated to assisting guests with a wide range of services, including making reservations, arranging transportation, and providing local recommendations. They serve as a knowledgeable resource for guests, helping to enhance their stay by offering personalized attention and solving problems to ensure a memorable and comfortable experience.

• Restaurant manager: Restaurant managers perform all the tasks that ensure a restaurant runs smoothly, such as hiring restaurant staff, setting schedules, dealing with customer issues, ordering food and restaurant supplies.

Senior-level hospitality careers

Senior-level roles in hospitality typically require a bachelor's degree, with many employers preferring candidates with a master's degree in hospitality management, business administration, or a related field.

Extensive experience of at least seven years is usually necessary. Senior managers are expected to have a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of hospitality operations, strong leadership and strategic planning skills, and a proven track record of success in managing teams and driving business results. Advanced professional certifications and a network within the industry are often valuable assets for senior-level positions.

• Hotel general manager: Hotel general managers use business, management, and interpersonal skills to oversee the day-to-day operations of a hotel, motel, lodge, inn, or resort. The various hotel department heads report directly to them, and they must know all areas of hotel management.

• Sommelier: Sommeliers have a deep knowledge of wine and understand how to recommend and serve it to customers. Their knowledge of wine might include types of grapes used to make wines, where wine grapes are grown, select wine regions around the world, proper wine tasting techniques.

• Director of housekeeping: A director of housekeeping is in charge of the housekeeping department in a business that provides lodging like a hotel or resort. Some duties include hiring and training housekeeping staff, managing staff schedules, ordering supplies and ensuring adequate resources, overseeing housekeeping needs for regular business and events.

• Executive chef: An executive chef is the head of a kitchen in a restaurant, hotel, or other food service establishment, responsible for overseeing all culinary operations. They manage the kitchen staff, create menus, ensure food quality and consistency, control costs, maintain safety and sanitation standards, and often serve as the public face of the restaurant's culinary offerings.

9 high-paying hospitality jobs

Certain career paths in hospitality tend to pay well. You can set a path to advance to these roles or pivot from a similar role if you have relevant experience.

• Hotel manager: $68,130 [1]

• Food service managers: $65,310 [2]

• Casino director: $151,000 [3]

• Sales managers: $138,560 [4]

• Executive chef: $60,990 [5]

• Director of housekeeping: $46,650 [6]

• Event manager: $59,440 [7]

• Flight attendant: $67,130 [8]

Prepare for hospitality jobs by building skills on Coursera

Whether you want to develop a new skill, get comfortable with an in-demand technology, or advance your abilities, keep growing with a Coursera Plus subscription. You’ll get access to over 10,000 flexible courses from over 350 top universities and companies.

Build job-ready skills with Coursera Plus

Start 7-day free trial

• 
• 
• 
• 

Start 7-day free trial