Hiring Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks
Employers across the 90 metro areas we have BLS OEWS wage data for pay hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks a median of $26,590 to $59,940 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A search through recruitlocalpros runs Tier I to Tier VI, $6,240 to $54,340, set by seniority, never by location or salary. Our vetted recruiting partner handles sourcing, screening and placement end to end.
What do hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks do?
- Greet, register, and assign rooms to guests of hotels or motels.
- Contact housekeeping or maintenance staff when guests report problems.
- Issue room keys and escort instructions to bellhops.
- Make and confirm reservations.
- Verify customers' credit, and establish how the customer will pay for the accommodation.
- Keep records of room availability and guests' accounts, manually or using computers.
Core tasks, O*NET OnLine, 43-4081.00.
What does it take to become one?
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
O*NET Job Zone 2, SVP (4.0 to < 6.0). O*NET OnLine.
Employers commonly list experience with Microsoft Office software, Property management system PMS software, Facebook, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint for this role.
What do hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks get paid?
BLS OEWS, May 2025 publishes a wage for hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks in 90 of the metro areas in this build. The median ranges from $26,590 to $59,940 a year depending on the metro, with a midpoint of $34,340. This is what employers pay, place of work, not a single national figure and not what any one person takes home.
BLS OEWS, BLS OEWS, May 2025, SOC 43-4081.
What does hiring one cost?
The same as any role: tier, not location or salary, sets the fee. Across all six tiers the published range is $6,240 to $54,340 per search. For scale, the highest published median for hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks in this build is $59,940. A contingency firm hiring at that level would bill roughly $11,988 to $17,982 on the first year salary alone, 20 to 30%.
Frequently asked
- How fast can a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks search fill?
- 23 to 35 days, 2 to 3x faster than a typical contingency search, per the recruiting provider's published figures.
- What if the hire does not work out?
- A 45-day replacement guarantee, at 50% off a repeat search for the same role.
Price a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks search
Eight questions about the role. Your tier range appears on screen, with the contingency comparison if you are paying one now.