Hotel General Manager Salary in the United States

Hotel General Managers are undoubtedly among the highest earners in the hospitality industry, earning an average of $93,384 per year.

This high wage is due to the fact that not everyone can be a Hotel General Manager, given the experience, leadership and other important skills required to be an effective hospitality leader.

Read on for a breakdown of the average Hotel General Manager salary, as well as other trends you should keep in mind for your earning potential.

While you’re here, use our salary comparison tool below to see how your salary compares with the average Hotel General Manager salary.

How Much Do Hotel General Managers Make in the United States?

The average Hotel General Manager salary for in the U.S. is $7,782 per month or $93,384 a year, according to our salary estimate methodology.

How Much do Hotel General Managers Make per Week?

Using our Salary to Hourly Calculator, we’ve determined the average weekly salary for Hotel General Managers to be $1,796.

How Much Do Hotel General Managers Make per Hour?

Hotel General Managers earn $45 per hour on average. However, because this is a hotel management role, it’s rare for Hotel General Managers to be paid by the hour.

They are usually salaried employees expected to work flexible hours. In most — if not all — cases, they are also exempted from overtime pay as they are considered executive employees.

What Is the Starting Salary for Entry-Level Hotel General Managers?

The starting salary for entry-level Hotel General Managers (GMs) typically ranges between $55,000 and $70,000 per year, depending on factors like the size and type of the hotel, location, and the candidate's prior experience in the hospitality industry.

• Mid-Range and Budget Hotels:
  • Entry-level GMs in smaller hotels or budget chains often start around $55,000 to $65,000 annually. These roles may focus on basic operational management and guest satisfaction but involve fewer complex responsibilities.
• Boutique and Upscale Hotels:
  • In boutique or luxury hotels, entry-level GMs can earn between $65,000 to $75,000 due to higher expectations for guest experiences, event coordination, and facility management.
• Resorts and Large Chains:
  • Large hotel chains (e.g., Marriott, Hilton) often start entry-level GMs at $70,000+, especially if the manager is overseeing multiple departments or working at a high-traffic resort property.

What Is the Highest Salary an Experienced Hotel General Manager Can Earn?

Experienced Hotel General Managers at high-performing hotels, resorts, or luxury properties can earn well over $150,000 to $200,000 annually, particularly in high-demand markets or prestigious hotel brands.

• Luxury Resorts and 5-Star Hotels:
  • GMs in luxury properties or global brands (e.g., Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons) can command salaries between $120,000 and $200,000, with additional bonuses tied to property performance.
• Major City Hotels (NYC, LA, Miami):
  • In metropolitan areas, top Hotel GMs earn between $130,000 to $180,000, especially if managing flagship properties.
• Regional and Multi-Hotel Managers:
  • GMs overseeing multiple properties or regional hotel operations often earn $150,000 to $250,000 with profit-sharing and stock options.
• Performance Bonuses:
  • Top-performing GMs can receive bonuses of 20-40% of their base salary, depending on metrics like revenue growth, occupancy rates, and guest satisfaction.

Hotel General Manager Salaries in Different US States

The average salary of Hotel General Managers can also differ depending on the state you work in. For example, Hotel General Managers in Connecticut earn the highest average at $103,103 per year, while those in Alabama earn the lowest average at $77,697 per year.

[Calculated using ZipRecruiter, Salary.com and Indeed data]

For a more in-depth breakdown, here’s a list of all states plus the District of Columbia, and their respective average Hotel General Manager salaries.

Check Your Take-Home Pay as Hotel General Manager

Now that you know the average pay for your state, you can use our Paycheck Calculator to see how much you earn at the end of the day — after taxes and other deductions in your state.

Keep in mind that each state also has its own set of labor laws that can affect your pay or the pay of your employees as a Hotel General Manager.

Hotel General Manager Salaries in US Cities

Across major cities in the U.S., the Hotel General Manager salary in Miami is one of the highest at  $118,314 per year or $9,859.50 a month. This is about 27% higher than the national average. Check below for salaries of other major cities.

[Calculated using ZipRecruiter, Salary.com and Indeed data]

6 Factors That Affect a Hotel General Manager’s Income

Given how the work of a Hotel General Manager is already rewarding, it’s best to understand what you can do to further optimize your earning potential. We already know from the sections above that location plays a role in your pay, but below are other factors that can affect it.

1. Experience

Seasoned Hotel General Managers who have demonstrated success in various positions within the hotel industry are usually offered higher salaries than those who have only a couple of years in leadership.

The more years you have in the industry, particularly in managerial roles, the higher your salary is likely to be.

2. Education

Having a degree in hospitality management, business administration or a related field can make you more valuable to your employer. This can demonstrate that you have more knowledge and skills that are a good fit for your role.

Additional certifications and continuous professional development can also justify a higher salary.

3. Type of establishment

Luxury hotels, large resorts and high-end boutique hotels generally offer higher salaries than budget or mid-range hotels. Higher-end establishments have bigger and more difficult key performance indicators to be met.

They also have the higher expectations for guest experience and reputation management, as well as a bigger budget to invest in its staff.

4. Performance

Your ability to drive revenue, maintain high occupancy rates and achieve high guest satisfaction scores directly influence your compensation. If you excel in these areas, then there are many hotels out there offering performance-based bonuses and incentives for such achievements.

5. Professional reputation

If you have a strong track record with many successful projects backed by your references, then you're well on your way to being a sought-after candidate.

By being a "veteran" in your industry and being known to turn around underperforming projects, hotels would be more willing to offer a higher Hotel Manager salary for you.

6. Compensation package

Hotels have different compensation packages, which you should keep in mind on top of your Hotel General Manager salary. In fact, even if some hotels offer you a slightly lower salary, their offered benefits and other perks should make up for it or even exceed the difference.

These job benefits can include health insurance, retirement plans, stock options and bonuses. Additional perks might include a company car, housing allowances and paid vacations. These benefits are discussed more in-depth in the next section.

Benefits and Unique Perks for Hotel General Managers

Given the importance of a Hotel General Manager's role, they are usually given unique perks and impressive compensation packages.

Some compensation packages for Hotel General Managers can include the following:

1. Complimentary stays

You can get either hotel room discounts or completely free access to private suites or apartments, as long as doing so does not displace revenue. You can also get complimentary stays during special occasions or when hotels need staff to stay on the hotel property.

It is also not uncommon for Hotel General Managers to stay in different hotel locations under their establishment for free, especially when the specific hotel is located far from your residence.

2. Performance bonuses

Due to your high-impact role in the business, if the hotel is doing well, then you're most likely to receive bonuses. Such bonuses are usually tied to key metrics, including the hotel's financial performance and guest satisfaction scores.

3. Profit-sharing opportunities

Aside from bonuses, Hotel General Managers can also be part of a profit-sharing pool when their hotel is high performing. This means that a percentage of the profits can be distributed among managers.

This provides a direct incentive for managers to focus on increasing the hotel's profitability and success.

4. Stock options

Some hotel chains offer stock options to their Hotel General Managers, providing them with the opportunity to purchase company stock at a predetermined price.

This aligns the interests of the managers with those of the company and its shareholders. If the company's stock price increases, Hotel General Managers can benefit financially, making stock options a potentially lucrative addition to their overall compensation.

How Much Do Similar Careers to a Hotel General Manager Get Paid?

Expert Reviewer Milos Eric thoroughly evaluated this salary guide to ensure the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the analyses provided. The salary guide provides insights such as location-specific figures, industry trends and factors that influence compensation. As the Co-Founder and General Manager of OysterLink, Milos brings his extensive experience as an entrepreneur and business executive. Through the years, he has led and hired more than 500 employees for global companies like DesignRush and Digital Silk. Not to mention, he is recognized as a Top Voice for Leadership, Recruitment and Recruitment Management on LinkedIn.