Your Hospitality Career: Make Sure You’re Being Paid What You’re Worth

No matter the field or industry, it's important for workers to maintain as much control as possible over their salaries. But when working in hospitality, salaries can vary substantially depending on the specific employer and position. In this industry, your ability to research market rates and negotiate may have a powerful impact on the money you stand to make throughout your career.

Get Off to a Strong Start

As you graduate from school and begin working in hospitality, your first starting salary may have a bigger impact on your long-term earnings than you might realize. The negative affect of a low starting salary can be reversed in the future, but doing so may not be easy. And the psychological impact of a low starting point may play a role in your willingness and ability to advocate for yourself later on.

Start strong right out of the gate. Before you accept your first job offer, carefully research the average salary numbers for the position in your geographic area. Then review salaries for the same position in other areas, and salaries for similar positions in other industries, if applicable.


It's not considered good form to discuss salary issues during the interview or at any point before you receive an official offer. But when you do receive a final offer, don't accept immediately. Think about the salary and how it conforms to your research.

Rates for hospitality work vary widely based on company budgets, so while you shouldn't expect a six figure starting salary from a small establishment, you should also pause before accepting a 20,000 dollar position from a major national hotel chain. Again, let your research be your guide.

Maintain Momentum

After you've taken the first step up the hospitality career ladder, your current employers will base annual and performance-based raises on your initial salary rate. Keep this in mind, and let it influence your decision to stay with the company as you advance, or leave and sign on with another employer.

The further you progress in hospitality, event planning and restaurant management, the more likely you'll be to face job offers without a clearly established salary rate. When this happens, you'll need to rely on your negotiation skills and a clear understanding of your own market value.

Salary negotiation at higher levels can be a very precise science. The best way to prepare for this stage in your career is to keep your eyes and ears open from your very first day on the job. Visit LiveCareer on a regular basis and try to retain everything you learn about the market value of your work, your unique skills and your specific accomplishments.