Becoming a Hospitality Manager via Online Education?

At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths. Ashford University, one of the highest ranking online schools, is a US school (accredited) offering hotel and hospitality management courses to train individuals to become top-notch hotel and hospitality managers, hospitality managers, hotel managers, food service managers, food service supervisors, food and beverage managers, hotel concierges, etc. Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 334,310 people employed as hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop alone in America, and their average annual salary is $19,190. Food service managers make on average $51,400 per year and there are about 190,250 of them employed today. Colleges and universities like Ashford University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into this field.

Typical Work Locations for a Hospitality Manager
  • film festival
  • hotel
  • restaurant
  • resort
  • railway station
  • airport
  • event management organization
  • large corporation
  • university
  • call center
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Hospitality Manager
  • show creativity
  • flexible hours
  • jobs can be found anywhere
  • growing industry
  • exciting job
  • learn various aspects of the business
  • travel abroad
  • good beginning salary
  • lucrative career
  • fast paced
Potential Drawbacks
  • work for lower salaries in a depressed economy
  • work even in off-peak hours
  • have to deal with difficult customers
  • seasonal nature of the industry can mean layoffs
  • always on call
  • caught between your employees and the owner
  • possible language barriers
  • held responsible for things that are not your fault
  • work holidays
  • usually have to start out as an employee before you can work as a manager
Related Professions to Consider
  • Hospitality Marketing Manager
  • Hospitality Manager' Assistant
  • Sales Manager for Group Hospitality
  • Hospitality Sales Manager
  • Hospitality Director
  • Unit Leader
  • Restaurant Manager
  • Accounting Manager
  • Hospitality Supervisor
  • Operations Manager
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Hospitality Manager
  • How do you keep a grip on your pressure and stress?
  • Tell us about an incident where you handled a difficult customer. How did you manage to do it?
  • What are the roles and responsibilities of a hotel manager?
  • Please elaborate some of your qualifications, skills, and abilities?
  • What are the different sectors in hotel industry?
  • Why should I hire you?
  • Why did you become a hospitality manager?
  • What do you think is a manager's role What qualities should they possess?
  • What motivates you How do you motivate others?
  • What makes you an effective manager?
Common Collaborating Professions
  • Cook
  • Account Executive for Hospitality
  • Chef
  • Planner
  • Account Manager
  • Receptionist
  • Waiter
  • Waitress
  • Concierge
  • Park administrator
Hospitality Manager Training books Hospitality Manager (More) Popular books Potential Companies to Work For Common College Majors
  • Culinary Arts
  • Cooking and Catering
  • Gourmet Cooking and Catering Program
  • Gourmet Cooking and Catering
  • Master of Science in Nutrition and Food Science
  • BS Hotel & Restaurant Management
  • Restaurant Management Certificate
  • AA in Catering
  • BA in Management
  • BA in Business Administration

Hospitality Manager Salary Information

Category: Food service managers

Total # Employed in the US 190,250
Average Hourly Wage: $24.71/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$14.33 $17.98 $22.7 $29.36 $37.94
Average Yearly Salary $51,400
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$29,810 $37,410 $47,210 $61,070 $78,910
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
10.1% 30.9% 26.3% 8.7% 20.3% 3.1% 0.7%
Food service managers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
District of Columbia $33.52/hr $69,720
North Dakota $31.82/hr $66,180
New York $30.44/hr $63,320
Missouri $29.47/hr $61,290
Virginia $28.34/hr $58,950
New Hampshire $27.56/hr $57,320
Oklahoma $27.19/hr $56,560
Connecticut $26.71/hr $55,560
Delaware $26.63/hr $55,390
Mississippi $26.45/hr $55,020
Hawaii $26.01/hr $54,110
Florida $25.98/hr $54,030
Wyoming $25.87/hr $53,810
Idaho $25.53/hr $53,100
Oregon $25.5/hr $53,050
Tennessee $24.92/hr $51,820
Utah $24.83/hr $51,650
North Carolina $24.66/hr $51,280
Montana $24.57/hr $51,110
Colorado $24.56/hr $51,090
Puerto Rico $24.38/hr $50,720
Alaska $24.35/hr $50,660
Nevada $24.25/hr $50,430
Indiana $24.22/hr $50,380
Washington $24.21/hr $50,350
Alabama $24.14/hr $50,220
Guam $24.03/hr $49,980
New Mexico $23.86/hr $49,640
Kansas $23.7/hr $49,300
Michigan $23.64/hr $49,180
Kentucky $23.39/hr $48,650
Ohio $23.21/hr $48,270
Arkansas $23.18/hr $48,220
South Carolina $22.48/hr $46,750
Massachusetts $22.33/hr $46,440
California $22.31/hr $46,400
West Virginia $22.17/hr $46,120
Maryland $21.98/hr $45,730
Nebraska $21.48/hr $44,680
Pennsylvania $21.29/hr $44,280
Louisiana $20.99/hr $43,670
Maine $20.88/hr $43,420
Wisconsin $20.01/hr $41,610
South Dakota $19.3/hr $40,150
New Jersey $19.13/hr $39,780
Iowa $18/hr $37,440


Category: Food preparation and serving related occupations

Total # Employed in the US 11,218,260
Average Hourly Wage: $10.04/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$7.28 $7.77 $8.89 $11.06 $14.61
Average Yearly Salary $20,880
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$15,150 $16,150 $18,490 $23,000 $30,390
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
% % % % % % %
Food preparation and serving related occupations — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Florida $12.8/hr $26,620
Missouri $12.07/hr $25,110
Indiana $11.98/hr $24,910
Puerto Rico $11.84/hr $24,630
Alaska $11.59/hr $24,100
New York $11.56/hr $24,040
Delaware $11.52/hr $23,960
Oklahoma $11.45/hr $23,820
North Dakota $11.2/hr $23,300
Tennessee $10.83/hr $22,530
District of Columbia $10.71/hr $22,290
North Carolina $10.63/hr $22,110
Virginia $10.56/hr $21,970
Colorado $10.54/hr $21,920
Connecticut $10.54/hr $21,920
Mississippi $10.28/hr $21,380
Nebraska $10.24/hr $21,300
Arkansas $10.21/hr $21,230
Utah $10.17/hr $21,160
Michigan $10.15/hr $21,120
Hawaii $10.09/hr $21,000
Kansas $10.06/hr $20,930
Montana $9.87/hr $20,540
Guam $9.71/hr $20,200
South Carolina $9.46/hr $19,690
Idaho $9.37/hr $19,480
New Hampshire $9.33/hr $19,410
Oregon $9.32/hr $19,390
Louisiana $9.28/hr $19,310
Ohio $9.26/hr $19,260
Kentucky $9.23/hr $19,200
New Jersey $9.23/hr $19,190
Iowa $9.21/hr $19,160
Pennsylvania $9.16/hr $19,060
Maine $9.16/hr $19,050
Wisconsin $9.12/hr $18,970
Wyoming $9.1/hr $18,930
Washington $9.1/hr $18,930
New Mexico $9.08/hr $18,880
Maryland $8.98/hr $18,670
Massachusetts $8.97/hr $18,650
West Virginia $8.82/hr $18,340
Alabama $8.73/hr $18,160
Nevada $8.72/hr $18,140
South Dakota $8.7/hr $18,100
California $8.65/hr $17,990


Category: Chefs and head cooks

Total # Employed in the US 94,300
Average Hourly Wage: $21.27/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$10.99 $14.46 $19.27 $25.73 $33.44
Average Yearly Salary $44,240
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$22,860 $30,080 $40,090 $53,510 $69,560
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
18.4% 32.3% 19.2% 17.0% 11.2% 1.4% 0.6%
Chefs and head cooks — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
North Dakota $28.42/hr $59,120
Virginia $26.98/hr $56,120
Delaware $26.19/hr $54,480
District of Columbia $25.02/hr $52,040
Indiana $23.96/hr $49,830
Hawaii $23.37/hr $48,610
Colorado $23.2/hr $48,260
Guam $22.53/hr $46,860
Alaska $22.35/hr $46,490
Missouri $22.23/hr $46,230
New York $21.94/hr $45,630
Connecticut $21.36/hr $44,440
Mississippi $21.22/hr $44,130
New Hampshire $21.02/hr $43,720
South Carolina $20.95/hr $43,570
Nebraska $20.76/hr $43,170
Puerto Rico $20.67/hr $43,000
Utah $20.3/hr $42,230
Montana $19.99/hr $41,570
Michigan $19.93/hr $41,450
Arkansas $19.64/hr $40,850
Tennessee $19.61/hr $40,800
Maryland $19.26/hr $40,060
Alabama $19.18/hr $39,900
Wyoming $19.12/hr $39,760
Kentucky $19.05/hr $39,630
North Carolina $18.93/hr $39,370
Oregon $18.5/hr $38,470
Kansas $18.45/hr $38,380
Washington $18.41/hr $38,290
Massachusetts $18.3/hr $38,070
New Jersey $18.21/hr $37,870
Louisiana $17.86/hr $37,150
Maine $17.58/hr $36,560
South Dakota $17.19/hr $35,750
Wisconsin $16.95/hr $35,260
Ohio $16.95/hr $35,260
West Virginia $16.82/hr $34,980
Idaho $16.69/hr $34,720
New Mexico $16.61/hr $34,550
Nevada $16.1/hr $33,490
Pennsylvania $14.99/hr $31,170
Iowa $12.05/hr $25,060


Category: Firstline supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers

Total # Employed in the US 791,750
Average Hourly Wage: $15.12/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$9.22 $11.07 $14.17 $18.21 $22.8
Average Yearly Salary $31,460
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$19,180 $23,030 $29,470 $37,880 $47,420
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
13.9% 38.8% 25.9% 7.6% 11.8% 1.5% 0.5%
Firstline supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Florida $18.98/hr $39,470
North Dakota $18.53/hr $38,550
Alaska $18.48/hr $38,450
Missouri $18.07/hr $37,590
Mississippi $17.4/hr $36,180
Puerto Rico $17.26/hr $35,900
New York $17.18/hr $35,740
Delaware $16.99/hr $35,350
Indiana $16.97/hr $35,310
Virginia $16.85/hr $35,050
District of Columbia $16.66/hr $34,660
Hawaii $16.3/hr $33,910
Utah $16.18/hr $33,660
Connecticut $16.13/hr $33,550
Arkansas $16.11/hr $33,500
North Carolina $16.01/hr $33,300
Kansas $15.85/hr $32,960
Tennessee $15.68/hr $32,610
Oklahoma $15.53/hr $32,300
New Hampshire $15.42/hr $32,070
New Mexico $15.35/hr $31,930
Idaho $15.11/hr $31,420
Kentucky $14.88/hr $30,950
Montana $14.86/hr $30,910
Oregon $14.85/hr $30,880
South Carolina $14.7/hr $30,580
Colorado $14.67/hr $30,510
Guam $14.59/hr $30,340
Washington $14.47/hr $30,090
New Jersey $14.19/hr $29,510
Michigan $14.18/hr $29,500
Wyoming $14.14/hr $29,420
West Virginia $13.97/hr $29,060
Louisiana $13.73/hr $28,550
Pennsylvania $13.7/hr $28,500
Nebraska $13.66/hr $28,420
Ohio $13.63/hr $28,340
Massachusetts $13.61/hr $28,310
Alabama $13.35/hr $27,770
Maryland $13.22/hr $27,490
Nevada $13.14/hr $27,340
Maine $13.1/hr $27,250
South Dakota $12.92/hr $26,880
Wisconsin $12.88/hr $26,780
Iowa $12.7/hr $26,410
California $12.29/hr $25,570


Category: Cooks, fast food

Total # Employed in the US 539,520
Average Hourly Wage: $8.76/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$7.19 $7.68 $8.52 $9.37 $10.94
Average Yearly Salary $18,230
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$14,960 $15,980 $17,720 $19,490 $22,760
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
33.4% 43.0% 14.5% 4.2% 4.0% 0.5% 0.2%
Cooks, fast food — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Florida $10.44/hr $21,720
Puerto Rico $10.13/hr $21,070
Delaware $10.05/hr $20,910
Missouri $9.99/hr $20,790
Indiana $9.77/hr $20,320
Mississippi $9.76/hr $20,310
District of Columbia $9.61/hr $19,990
Virginia $9.5/hr $19,760
North Dakota $9.44/hr $19,640
Tennessee $9.42/hr $19,590
Oklahoma $9.37/hr $19,480
North Carolina $9.25/hr $19,240
Colorado $9.23/hr $19,190
Utah $9.23/hr $19,190
New Jersey $8.95/hr $18,620
Pennsylvania $8.94/hr $18,590
Alaska $8.93/hr $18,580
Kansas $8.92/hr $18,560
New York $8.9/hr $18,520
Arkansas $8.85/hr $18,410
South Carolina $8.76/hr $18,220
Idaho $8.76/hr $18,220
Montana $8.73/hr $18,160
Ohio $8.7/hr $18,100
Connecticut $8.67/hr $18,030
Hawaii $8.65/hr $17,990
Michigan $8.54/hr $17,760
Guam $8.49/hr $17,660
Oregon $8.49/hr $17,650
New Hampshire $8.37/hr $17,410
West Virginia $8.35/hr $17,360
Wyoming $8.25/hr $17,170
New Mexico $8.25/hr $17,150
Nebraska $8.22/hr $17,110
Iowa $8.2/hr $17,050
Kentucky $8.17/hr $17,000
Washington $8.16/hr $16,960
Nevada $8.15/hr $16,960
Louisiana $8.15/hr $16,960
South Dakota $8.06/hr $16,770
Maine $8.04/hr $16,730
Wisconsin $7.87/hr $16,380
Maryland $7.85/hr $16,340
Alabama $7.84/hr $16,310
Massachusetts $7.77/hr $16,160
California $7.76/hr $16,130


Category: Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food

Total # Employed in the US 2,695,740
Average Hourly Wage: $8.71/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$7.13 $7.55 $8.28 $9.26 $11.02
Average Yearly Salary $18,120
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$14,820 $15,710 $17,220 $19,270 $22,920
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
24.4% 47.0% 18.5% 4.8% 4.7% 0.6% 0.2%
Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Florida $11.37/hr $23,650
Puerto Rico $9.88/hr $20,550
Delaware $9.87/hr $20,520
Indiana $9.72/hr $20,220
New York $9.64/hr $20,050
Missouri $9.64/hr $20,040
Colorado $9.63/hr $20,040
Tennessee $9.57/hr $19,900
North Dakota $9.38/hr $19,520
North Carolina $9.28/hr $19,300
Alaska $9.25/hr $19,240
Utah $9.24/hr $19,220
Virginia $9.09/hr $18,910
Connecticut $9.07/hr $18,870
Montana $8.97/hr $18,650
Arkansas $8.86/hr $18,420
Oklahoma $8.85/hr $18,410
New Jersey $8.85/hr $18,400
Kansas $8.84/hr $18,380
Mississippi $8.83/hr $18,370
Michigan $8.72/hr $18,130
Nebraska $8.67/hr $18,020
Hawaii $8.66/hr $18,010
Louisiana $8.61/hr $17,910
District of Columbia $8.54/hr $17,770
Iowa $8.47/hr $17,610
New Hampshire $8.38/hr $17,420
Guam $8.38/hr $17,430
Pennsylvania $8.32/hr $17,300
South Carolina $8.31/hr $17,290
Ohio $8.22/hr $17,100
Wyoming $8.19/hr $17,020
Maine $8.19/hr $17,040
Oregon $8.19/hr $17,040
New Mexico $8.17/hr $16,990
Washington $8.12/hr $16,880
Idaho $8.12/hr $16,890
Nevada $8.08/hr $16,800
Kentucky $8.07/hr $16,790
Wisconsin $8.04/hr $16,720
Massachusetts $7.99/hr $16,620
West Virginia $7.95/hr $16,530
South Dakota $7.9/hr $16,430
Maryland $7.87/hr $16,360
Alabama $7.76/hr $16,140
California $7.64/hr $15,890


Category: Food servers, nonrestaurant

Total # Employed in the US 194,950
Average Hourly Wage: $10.39/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$7.46 $8.14 $9.42 $11.74 $14.75
Average Yearly Salary $21,620
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$15,530 $16,920 $19,590 $24,420 $30,690
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
20.2% 46.5% 19.9% 5.9% 6.3% 0.8% 0.3%
Food servers, nonrestaurant — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Oklahoma $14.19/hr $29,510
Indiana $13.71/hr $28,520
Delaware $12.48/hr $25,950
Colorado $11.58/hr $24,090
New York $11.55/hr $24,030
Virginia $11.51/hr $23,940
Missouri $11.3/hr $23,510
Connecticut $11.13/hr $23,140
Nebraska $10.82/hr $22,500
North Dakota $10.64/hr $22,130
District of Columbia $10.59/hr $22,020
Puerto Rico $10.59/hr $22,020
Tennessee $10.53/hr $21,900
Montana $10.49/hr $21,820
Wisconsin $10.47/hr $21,770
Mississippi $10.15/hr $21,110
Michigan $10.07/hr $20,940
Iowa $10.05/hr $20,890
Hawaii $9.92/hr $20,640
North Carolina $9.91/hr $20,620
Kansas $9.9/hr $20,590
New Jersey $9.83/hr $20,450
Alaska $9.8/hr $20,390
Pennsylvania $9.74/hr $20,260
Arkansas $9.67/hr $20,120
Utah $9.62/hr $20,000
Louisiana $9.6/hr $19,970
Kentucky $9.57/hr $19,890
Maryland $9.54/hr $19,830
South Carolina $9.49/hr $19,730
Wyoming $9.47/hr $19,710
Ohio $9.4/hr $19,550
New Hampshire $9.36/hr $19,460
West Virginia $9.23/hr $19,200
Oregon $9.2/hr $19,140
Idaho $9.18/hr $19,080
Guam $9.12/hr $18,970
Washington $9.11/hr $18,940
New Mexico $9.03/hr $18,780
Massachusetts $8.78/hr $18,260
Alabama $8.73/hr $18,150
South Dakota $8.61/hr $17,910
Maine $8.25/hr $17,150
Nevada $7.81/hr $16,240
California $7.78/hr $16,190


Category: Hospitalists

Total # Employed in the US 274,160
Average Hourly Wage: $83.59/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$24.88 $52.3 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0
Average Yearly Salary $173,860
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$51,750 $108,780 $0 $0 $0
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.2% 0.3% 0.4% 0.4% 1.0% 2.3% 95.3%


Hotel and Hospitality Management Programs by State & City