At a glance
Median pay for Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks runs from $27,780 in Oklahoma City to $59,940 in Urban Honolulu across 74 curated metros; the middle value is $34,665.
After the BEA 2024 price adjustment, the top three are Urban Honolulu ($54,019), San Jose ($40,961), Las Vegas ($40,673).
These are workforce estimates from published medians, not job offers or expected hiring pay.
Sources: BLS wages (May 2025) · BEA price parity (2024) · Census ACS (2020–2024) · metro areas, not city limits · How we calculate
Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks salary comparison
Hotel desk clerk pay depends on property type, shift and season. BLS wages count tips but not shift differentials, and a metro median combines resorts with budget properties. 74 of 75 curated metros have a reported occupation median. The table is sorted by the site-calculated adjusted metric, not by predicted hiring demand.
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| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Adjusted median* | Median gross rent / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $59,940 | $54,019 | $2,083 |
| San Jose, CA | $45,230 | $40,961 | $2,840 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $40,760 | $40,673 | $1,626 |
| Seattle, WA | $44,520 | $40,060 | $2,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | $44,670 | $38,638 | $2,474 |
| New York, NY–NJ | $43,490 | $38,636 | $1,830 |
| Kansas City, MO–KS | $35,530 | $38,393 | $1,249 |
| St. Louis, MO–IL | $35,970 | $37,828 | $1,113 |
| Buffalo, NY | $36,130 | $37,697 | $1,057 |
| Omaha, NE–IA | $34,530 | $37,569 | $1,192 |
| Madison, WI | $36,410 | $37,425 | $1,354 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $36,160 | $37,303 | $1,139 |
| Des Moines, IA | $34,180 | $37,273 | $1,150 |
| Providence, RI–MA | $37,710 | $37,053 | $1,307 |
| Portland, OR–WA | $38,970 | $36,966 | $1,724 |
| Boston, MA–NH | $39,990 | $36,937 | $2,023 |
| Albany, NY | $36,650 | $36,810 | $1,280 |
| Rochester, NY | $35,640 | $36,729 | $1,143 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $36,740 | $36,424 | $1,583 |
| Denver, CO | $38,520 | $36,415 | $1,874 |
Show all 74 metros with a reported median
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| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Adjusted median* | Median gross rent / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $59,940 | $54,019 | $2,083 |
| San Jose, CA | $45,230 | $40,961 | $2,840 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $40,760 | $40,673 | $1,626 |
| Seattle, WA | $44,520 | $40,060 | $2,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | $44,670 | $38,638 | $2,474 |
| New York, NY–NJ | $43,490 | $38,636 | $1,830 |
| Kansas City, MO–KS | $35,530 | $38,393 | $1,249 |
| St. Louis, MO–IL | $35,970 | $37,828 | $1,113 |
| Buffalo, NY | $36,130 | $37,697 | $1,057 |
| Omaha, NE–IA | $34,530 | $37,569 | $1,192 |
| Madison, WI | $36,410 | $37,425 | $1,354 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $36,160 | $37,303 | $1,139 |
| Des Moines, IA | $34,180 | $37,273 | $1,150 |
| Providence, RI–MA | $37,710 | $37,053 | $1,307 |
| Portland, OR–WA | $38,970 | $36,966 | $1,724 |
| Boston, MA–NH | $39,990 | $36,937 | $2,023 |
| Albany, NY | $36,650 | $36,810 | $1,280 |
| Rochester, NY | $35,640 | $36,729 | $1,143 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $36,740 | $36,424 | $1,583 |
| Denver, CO | $38,520 | $36,415 | $1,874 |
| Minneapolis, MN–WI | $38,150 | $36,395 | $1,440 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $38,760 | $36,270 | $1,875 |
| Sacramento, CA | $38,540 | $36,130 | $1,819 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $34,500 | $36,052 | $1,191 |
| Nashville, TN | $34,710 | $36,029 | $1,528 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $34,190 | $35,784 | $1,202 |
| Boise City, ID | $35,170 | $35,745 | $1,487 |
| Orlando, FL | $36,250 | $35,743 | $1,760 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $36,860 | $35,677 | $1,702 |
| Hartford, CT | $36,640 | $35,661 | $1,416 |
| Tucson, AZ | $34,470 | $35,574 | $1,212 |
| Columbus, OH | $33,730 | $35,331 | $1,274 |
| Cleveland, OH | $33,140 | $35,284 | $1,050 |
| Fresno, CA | $35,950 | $35,191 | $1,392 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $39,620 | $34,887 | $2,063 |
| Chicago, IL–IN | $36,130 | $34,876 | $1,430 |
| San Diego, CA | $39,000 | $34,857 | $2,246 |
| Riverside, CA | $37,030 | $34,789 | $1,846 |
| Philadelphia, PA–NJ–DE–MD | $35,660 | $34,772 | $1,480 |
| Cincinnati, OH–KY–IN | $33,130 | $34,738 | $1,105 |
| Washington, DC–VA–MD–WV | $37,690 | $34,615 | $2,027 |
| North Port, FL | $35,220 | $34,389 | $1,747 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $34,190 | $34,367 | $1,513 |
| Tampa, FL | $34,620 | $34,315 | $1,628 |
| Detroit, MI | $34,340 | $34,238 | $1,207 |
| Dallas, TX | $35,090 | $34,038 | $1,614 |
| Baltimore, MD | $35,180 | $33,669 | $1,611 |
| Charleston, SC | $33,860 | $33,537 | $1,605 |
| Louisville, KY–IN | $31,080 | $33,393 | $1,116 |
| Dayton, OH | $30,510 | $32,915 | $1,039 |
| Memphis, TN–MS–AR | $30,270 | $32,838 | $1,220 |
| Little Rock, AR | $29,090 | $32,552 | $1,055 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $30,690 | $32,418 | $1,053 |
| Austin, TX | $31,770 | $32,397 | $1,726 |
| Knoxville, TN | $29,970 | $32,376 | $1,145 |
| Allentown, PA–NJ | $32,220 | $32,230 | $1,365 |
| Greenville, SC | $29,730 | $31,879 | $1,150 |
| Atlanta, GA | $31,850 | $31,832 | $1,672 |
| Charlotte, NC–SC | $30,910 | $31,752 | $1,473 |
| Durham, NC | $30,960 | $31,730 | $1,466 |
| New Orleans, LA | $29,340 | $31,686 | $1,217 |
| Virginia Beach, VA–NC | $30,980 | $31,631 | $1,478 |
| Tulsa, OK | $28,200 | $31,609 | $1,078 |
| San Antonio, TX | $29,870 | $31,536 | $1,363 |
| Richmond, VA | $30,850 | $31,525 | $1,447 |
| Greensboro, NC | $29,250 | $31,497 | $1,093 |
| Raleigh, NC | $30,800 | $31,378 | $1,573 |
| Birmingham, AL | $28,750 | $31,371 | $1,172 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $29,910 | $31,304 | $1,156 |
| Columbia, SC | $29,240 | $31,219 | $1,193 |
| Miami, FL | $35,500 | $31,098 | $1,869 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $27,910 | $30,745 | $1,135 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $27,780 | $30,727 | $1,124 |
| Houston, TX | $29,900 | $30,316 | $1,430 |
The table shows the 20 highest adjusted medians; the full list of 74 metros is expandable above. The price-adjusted wage equals the BLS May 2025 annual occupational median × 100 ÷ the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. Census rent, household income and commuting figures are ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. They describe different populations and do not determine take-home pay, employment prospects or individual rent. ACS gross rent includes contract rent plus estimated utility and fuel costs.
How pay for Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks varies across metros
Across the 74 curated metros with a reported median, the nominal annual median for Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks runs from $27,780 in Oklahoma City to $59,940 in Urban Honolulu, a 2.16× difference. After dividing each median by its metro’s BEA price parity, the range is $30,316 in Houston to $54,019 in Urban Honolulu, a 1.78× difference. The middle value across these metros is $34,665 nominal and $34,823 adjusted.
The price adjustment changes the order. Out of 74 metros, Des Moines moves from 45th on nominal pay to 13th on adjusted pay while Miami moves from 32nd to 71st. These ranks compare published medians only, not openings or offers.
Beyond the median: published wage percentiles
The following six metros lead this curated set on the price-adjusted median measure. The five annual wage statistics are the original BLS estimates; they have not been price-adjusted. They illustrate the estimated wage distribution for the same occupation and geographic unit.
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| Metropolitan area | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $40,910 | $53,210 | $59,940 | $66,180 | $67,230 |
| San Jose, CA | $40,340 | $43,840 | $45,230 | $47,850 | $57,250 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $29,500 | $34,780 | $40,760 | $44,360 | $51,170 |
| Seattle, WA | $39,640 | $41,980 | $44,520 | $47,480 | $54,730 |
| San Francisco, CA | $39,520 | $43,180 | $44,670 | $54,020 | $69,180 |
| New York, NY–NJ | $35,470 | $37,890 | $43,490 | $50,280 | $65,260 |
Percentiles describe a distribution, not an individual’s pay; suppressed values are marked Unavailable.
National career outlook and entry requirements
The BLS projects national employment for Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks from 2025 to 2035. These occupational projections are national; they do not forecast openings in any particular metro area.
Among the 80 occupations curated on this site, projected 2025–2035 growth of +1.8% ranks 59th (the middle value is +5.0%), and about 35,500 projected annual openings rank 41st. This compares only the occupations on this site and does not predict hiring in any one metro.
The BLS lists no related work experience as typically required for entry. Its typical training category is short-term on-the-job training. National employment base: 264,600 workers in 2025; projected 269,500 in 2035.
Openings are projected national totals, including replacements, not job ads or local vacancies. Education and training categories are typical patterns; licensing varies by role. BLS 2025–2035 Occupational Projections, Table 1.2. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
What to check for this occupation before moving
How roles can differ: Hotel desk clerks cover evening, night and weekend shifts, and the property type and brand strongly affect pay and benefits. Resorts and other properties may add tips or seasonal variation.
Questions to ask about a real offer: Ask about shift schedules, night and weekend differentials, tip pooling and any employee lodging or travel discounts. Confirm whether hours are guaranteed in slow seasons.
This is editorial guidance, not a claim that every employer or state follows these practices; verify terms with the employer and relevant authorities.
What this occupation median does—and does not—tell you
BLS OEWS wages are employer-reported estimates for wage-and-salary jobs, so self-employment income is not included. Annual figures assume a 2,080-hour year. Wages include commissions and tips but exclude overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. A median is neither a new-hire salary nor a vacancy count.
Regional price parities compare overall price levels with the U.S. average; housing data come from a different survey and are not subtracted again from the wage. Missing wages and suppressed percentiles stay unavailable. See the methodology for details.
Salary for Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks in Raleigh, NC
Raleigh is shown as a worked example (one of the larger metros on this site); it is not a recommendation, and the table above lists every metro with a reported median. Of 74 metros, it ranks 58th on nominal median and 67th on price-adjusted median.
For the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro, the May 2025 BLS annual occupational median is $30,800. The published 25th-to-75th-percentile wage interval is $28,910 to $36,260. The price-adjusted median of $31,378 applies the BEA 2024 all-items index of 98.2 (U.S. = 100). It does not reflect an employer offer, taxes or your individual household costs.
The ACS metro-wide gross-rent median is $1,573 per month; with an ACS margin of error of ±$16. Gross rent includes estimated utilities and covers renters generally, not workers in this occupation. For a data-driven contrast, Birmingham has a published BLS median of $28,750 and adjusted median of $31,371. This comparison metro has the closest observed adjusted median in our curated set. This does not establish similar rents or local job conditions. Compare Raleigh with Birmingham in the interactive tool, or review the Raleigh metro profile for income, housing uncertainty and commute context.
Before relying on a quoted salary, confirm that the job matches this BLS occupation and that pay period, hours and benefits are comparable.