Hotel operations are a beast to manage.

From delegating work to staff and managing guest services, hotel operations managers have their hands full. And that hard work is rewarded with a salary that is among the highest in the hospitality industry.

So what exactly do hotel operations manager salaries look like? In this article, Fetch will be answering that very question—along with offering some insight into the role and tips to help you get the salary that you deserve.

Ready to learn more about this vital hospitality role? Let's dive in.

Hotel Operations Manager Salaries Summary

In case you're in a rush, here's the gist of what you need to know about hotel operations manager salaries.

In the US, hotel operations managers make an average of $52,449/year in base pay and $15,407/year in additional pay (i.e., bonuses and stock) for an average total pay of $67,856/year.

There's a lot of variation in this role, though. Depending on factors like hotel size and location, experience, and performance, hotel operations managers' total pay can range from $46,000/year to $101,000/year.

Now, let's talk about some of these factors in a bit more depth.

Factors That Influence Hotel Operations Manager Salaries

Hotel Location

Salaries for a position usually vary to reflect the different costs of living from city to city. In the hospitality industry, this can mean a big difference in pay for hotel operations managers.

For a simple example, let's compare the average total pay for hotel operations managers in Midtown NYC versus Des Moines. In Midtown, the average operations manager makes $75,748/year—while in Des Moines, the same role earns $68,255/year.

That's a 10% decrease just for living in a different city.

Hotel Size

Managing bigger hotels come with more responsibilities for hotel operations managers. There are more employees, more guests, more problems… more everything. That usually goes hand in hand with bigger paychecks.

MGM Resorts US is known for operating massive hotels with thousands of rooms—including the 6,852-room MGM Grand in La Vegas. As a result, they pay their hotel operations managers an average of $86,047/year—roughly 27% higher than the national average.

Experience

Experience is an important factor when it comes to salary in the hospitality industry. The longer you've held a position, the more scenarios and challenges you've faced—and that makes you more valuable to your employer.

We see just how valuable experience is when we look at the variation in salary ranges based on years of experience:

0–1 Year: $72,264
1–3 Years: $73,949
4–6 Years: $79,635
7–9 Years: $88,706
10–14 Years: $103,544
15+ Years: $122,641

As you can see, salary increases start out slow, but really kick into high gear once you've earned 7+ years of experience.

Negotiation

Negotiation is a hugely important factor in getting the salary that you deserve. Studies have shown that people who don't negotiate their salaries lose out on $500,000 to $1,500,000 in lifetime earnings—a lot of money to leave on the table.

Despite this fact, only 57% of men and 7% of women even attempt to negotiate their starting salaries. We highly recommend you do—studies also show that 89% of men and women who negotiate are successful.

We'll talk more about how to negotiate your salary later!

What Do Hotel Operations Managers Think of Their Jobs?

We've covered the numbers, but that's only part of the story. What do hotel operations managers think of their jobs? Is their work-life balance good? Do they feel they're compensated fairly? Do they feel like they're on an upward career trajectory?

Let's find out.

Work-Life Balance

Hotel operations managers rate their work-life balance an average of 3.5/5 (70%).

While this isn't an amazing rating at face value, it's higher than other roles in the hospitality industry, such as:

Front Desk: 3.4/5 (68%)
Wait Staff: 3.4/5 (68%)
Hotel General Manager: 3.2/5 (64%)
Restaurant General Manager: 3.2/5 (64%)

Despite the day-to-day challenges, hotel operations managers feel they get enough time off to enjoy life outside of work.

Compensation

Hotel operations managers rate their compensation an average of 3.6/5 (72%).

This is a solid rating that suggests hotel operations managers feel that their hard work is fairly compensated. For reference, lawyers (who make an average of $106,735/year) and software developers (who make an average of $95,268/year) both rate their compensation 3.5/5 (70%).

Career Advancement

Hotel operations managers rate their career advancement opportunities an average of 3.7/5 (74%).

This suggests that hotel operations managers feel they have a good chance of moving up the ranks in their current positions and/or advancing to more senior roles.

Hotel Operations Manager Salary

As we mentioned at the start, hotel operations managers make an average of $67,856/year.

This total pay is made up of an average of $52,449/year in base pay and an average pf $15,407/year in additional pay. In the context of hotel operations, additional pay usually takes the form of bonuses, which can either be performance-based or discretionary. Some large, publically listed companies may also offer stock options.

The range for hotel operations manager salaries is quite wide. On the lower end, you can expect to earn a minimum of $46,000/year. On the higher end, you can expect to earn a maximum of $101,000/year.

How To Negotiate a Higher Salary

Want to learn how you can start earning a salary that's on the higher end of that range? You're in the right place.

Here are some steps you can take:

Know your value. Experienced hiring managers know how much your skills and experience are worth—and you should as well. Use resources like PayScale and Glassdoor to come up with a salary range that reflects what you bring to the table. And remember—you're aiming for the upper end of this range.
Make it specific. The numbers you come up with will likely be messy—don't round them. A specific number (e.g., $71,650) is more likely to earn you a higher salary than a ballpark number (e.g., $72,000) because it shows that you've done your homework.
Have a clear lower limit. Negotiations work (in part) because finding and hiring candidates is a pain. Employers need to know that there's a real risk that you'll walk if your basic threshold isn't met so that you actually have leverage.
Show off. If you have stats, reports, and other evidence that show how you've added value in your current or previous roles, make sure to bring them up. You want to show (in concrete terms) that you're worth it.
Keep the conversation positive. This is key—you want to come across as reasonable and understanding, not entitled or demanding. This is a negotiation, after all—negotiations only work if both sides are willing to compromise.

By following these steps, you'll be in a much better position to negotiate for the salary that you want and deserve.

How Do Hotel Operations Manager Salaries Differ From Other Positions?

How does the salary of a hotel operations manager compare to other positions in the hospitality industry?

Let's find out:

How Do Hotel Operations Manager Salaries Vary Between Companies?

How does the salary of a hotel operations manager vary depending on the company?

Here’s a comparison of a few major players:

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A Tool for Managing Hotel Operations

As a hotel operations manager, you have to wear many hats—you're responsible for everything from creating operational plans to ensuring that customer tickets are handled quickly.

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If you're feeling overwhelmed, it might be time to choose a tool that supports your workflow and helps you stay organized. Fetch is that tool—it's designed to give hotel operations staff a centralized place to track, manage, and measure their daily operations.

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Ready to upgrade your operations career? Book a demo and see what Fetch can do.

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