Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
Hotel, Motel and Resort Desk Clerks
Hotel, Motel and Resort Desk Clerks accommodate hotel, motel, and resort patrons by registering and assigning rooms to guests, issuing room keys or cards, transmitting and receiving messages, keeping records of occupied rooms and guests' accounts, making and confirming reservations, and presenting statements to and collecting payments from departing guests.
Table of contents
What they do
Hotel, Motel and Resort Desk Clerks accommodate hotel, motel, and resort patrons by registering and assigning rooms to guests, issuing room keys or cards, transmitting and receiving messages, keeping records of occupied rooms and guests' accounts, making and confirming reservations, and presenting statements to and collecting payments from departing guests.
- 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.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Hotel, Motel and Resort Desk Clerks prepare for basic food services, such as setting up continental breakfast or coffee and tea supplies. They greet, register, and assign rooms to guests of hotels or motels.
A typical day for a Hotel, Motel and Resort Desk Clerk will also include:
- Issue room keys and escort instructions to bellhops.
- Keep records of room availability and guests’ accounts, manually or using computers.
- Clean and maintain lobby and common areas, such as restocking supplies and watering plants.
- Perform bookkeeping activities, such as balancing accounts and conducting nightly audits.
- Verify customers’ credit, and establish how the customer will pay for the accommodation.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Hotel, Motel and Resort Desk Clerks also deposit guests’ valuables in hotel safes or safe deposit boxes. They may also arrange tours, taxis, or restaurant reservations for customers.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Hotel, Motel and Resort Desk Clerks date-stamp, sort, and rack incoming mail and messages. They might also clean and maintain lobby and common areas, such as restocking supplies and watering plants.
In addition, they plan, schedule, or supervise the work of other employees.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them perform bookkeeping activities, such as balancing accounts and conducting nightly audits.
To some hotels, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks, it is also their responsibility to prepare for basic food services, such as setting up continental breakfast or coffee and tea supplies.
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What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
56% said they were satisfied with their job and 42% said they found their job meaningful.
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Pros
Suitable for people who like to follow routines.
Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Normal working hours (40 hours per week).
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to solve problems mentally.
One of the lowest paying jobs.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Hotel, Motel and Resort Desk Clerks with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $18,950 to $21,690 per year or $9 to $10 per hour.
Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Highest (Top 10%) | $36,580 | $18 |
Senior (Top 25%) | $30,330 | $15 |
Median | $25,490 | $12 |
Junior (Bottom 25%) | $21,690 | $10 |
No experience (Bottom 10%) | $18,950 | $9 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Hotel, Motel and Resort Desk Clerks based on their average annual salary.
Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services | $34970 | $16.81 |
Civic and Social Organizations | $34500 | $16.59 |
Amusement Parks and Arcades | $30380 | $14.61 |
Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation | $30080 | $14.46 |
Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $29730 | $14.29 |
Real Estate | $29180 | $14.03 |
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | $27920 | $13.43 |
Land Subdivision | $27710 | $13.32 |
RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps | $27450 | $13.20 |
Employment Services | $27400 | $13.17 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Hotel, Motel and Resort Desk Clerks work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Hotel, Motel and Resort Desk Clerks including the average salary in that industry.
Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
---|---|---|---|
Traveler Accommodation | 201620 | $26760 | $12.86 |
Real Estate | 5510 | $29180 | $14.03 |
RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps | 3450 | $27450 | $13.20 |
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | 1110 | $27920 | $13.43 |
Management of Companies and Enterprises | 640 | $27220 | $13.09 |
Local Government | 540 | $27060 | $13.01 |
Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | 540 | $29730 | $14.29 |
Rooming and Boarding Houses | 450 | $25390 | $12.21 |
Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services | 430 | $26560 | $12.77 |
Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services | 270 | $ | $* |
What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
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Telephone
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Group discussions
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Public speaking
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Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.
They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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