- Tennessee leads as the best state for hospitality professionals with affordable living, strong wages, and 25% job growth projected by 2030.
- Hawaii ranks last due to its highest cost of living despite offering high wages, with workers struggling to balance income and expenses.
- Florida (4th) offers a balanced cost of living and growing opportunities, while New York (11th) has high wages offset by the nation’s highest living costs.
Hospitality professionals are the backbone of the tourism and service industries, ensuring guests have unforgettable experiences. But where do these workers find the best conditions to thrive? By examining wages, cost of living, and adjusted take-home pay, OysterLink ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia. From the lush islands of Hawaii to the bustling streets of New York, this report dives deep into the realities for hospitality workers across the U.S
Methodology
To determine the best states for hospitality professionals, we analyzed five key hospitality occupations from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): (First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers, Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks, Lodging Managers, Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners, Waiters and Waitresses).
Data sources included:
· Cost of Living Index: Missouri Economic Research and Information Center
· Salaries and Employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics We calculated take-home pay using OysterLink’s Paycheck Calculator to determine after-tax earnings and the percentage retained. Each state’s ranking was based on weighted factors:
· Take-home pay percentage (40%)
· Average annual wage (20%)
· Projected job growth (20%)
· Cost of living index (20%)
Rankings were normalized to ensure consistency and balance across factors.
Top States: Where Hospitality Thrives
These states offer the best conditions for hospitality professionals: high wages, reasonable living costs, and robust job markets.
- Tennessee offers an attractive mix of affordability and rapid job growth, with cities like Nashville serving as hubs for hospitality careers.
- Combined Score: 0.76 (Highest)
- Living Wage: $20.77/hour
- Annual Wage: $46,180
- Take-Home Pay: $38,814
- Cost of Living Index: 89.7 (Low)
- Projected Hospitality Job Market Growth (2020–2030): 25%
- Alaska. High wages and seasonal tourism opportunities make Alaska a prime destination despite its elevated living costs.
- Combined Score: 0.75
- Living Wage: $23.26/hour
- Annual Wage: $52,490
- Take-Home Pay: $43,935
- Cost of Living Index: 127.1 (High)
- Projected Hospitality Job Market Growth: 24%
- Wyoming offers a balance of manageable costs and steady growth for hospitality professionals.
- Combined Score: 0.73
- Living Wage: $21.18/hour
- Annual Wage: $48,940
- Take-Home Pay: $41,250
- Cost of Living Index: 92.5 (Moderate)
- Projected Hospitality Job Market Growth: 20%
- Florida. Global tourism appeal fosters a dynamic and growing hospitality sector
- Combined Score: 0.72
- Living Wage: $22.43/hour
- Annual Wage: $48,630
- Take-Home Pay: $39,248
- Cost of Living Index: 101.9 (Near National Average)
- Projected Hospitality Job Market Growth: 28%
- Nevada. Anchored by Las Vegas, Nevada’s hospitality sector offers high wages and significant growth potential.
- Combined Score: 0.70
- Living Wage: $23.10/hour
- Annual Wage: $49,200
- Take-Home Pay: $40,470
- Cost of Living Index: 108.2 (Above Average)
- Projected Hospitality Job Market Growth: 22%
- South Dakota. Affordability and growing tourism industry attract hospitality professionals seeking stability.
- Combined Score: 0.69
- Living Wage: $20.80/hour
- Annual Wage: $45,670
- Take-Home Pay: $38,100
- Cost of Living Index: 91.9 (Low)
- Projected Hospitality Job Market Growth: 15%
- Montana‘s scenic attractions and growing opportunities appeal to hospitality workers.
- Combined Score: 0.68
- Living Wage: $21.50
- Annual Wage: $46,840
- Take-Home Pay: $38,750
- Cost of Living Index: 99.7 (Near National Average)
- Projected Hospitality Job Market Growth: 19%
- North Dakota offers competitive wages and low costs, ideal for workers seeking financial growth.
- Combined Score: 0.67
- Living Wage: $21.30/hour
- Annual Wage: $47,150
- Take-Home Pay: $39,250
- Cost of Living Index: 90.5 (Low)
- Projected Hospitality Job Market Growth: 14%
- Texas combines a growing job market with affordable living costs in major cities like Austin.
- Combined Score: 0.66
- Living Wage: $22.10/hour
- Annual Wage: $49,370
- Take-Home Pay: $40,690
- Cost of Living Index: 92.1 (Low)
- Projected Hospitality Job Market Growth: 18%
- Utah‘s appeal lies in its vibrant tourism sector and balanced living conditions.
- Combined Score: 0.65
- Living Wage: $22.40/hour
- Annual Wage: $48,920
- Take-Home Pay: $40,230
- Cost of Living Index: 101.6 (Near National Average)
- Projected Hospitality Job Market Growth: 20%
- New York. Despite its high wages, New York’s elevated living costs present financial challenges for hospitality professionals. However, the state’s world-class opportunities in cities like New York City attract ambitious workers seeking unparalleled career growth.
- Living Wage: $26.24/hour (High)
- Annual Wage: $54,150 (High)
- Take-Home Pay: $41,880 (Moderate after taxes)
- Cost of Living Index: 148.2 (Very High)
- Projected Hospitality Job Market Growth (2020–2030): 10%
The bottom three
51. Hawaii
- Living Wage: $27.33/hour
- Annual Wage: $58,570
- Take-Home Pay: $35,767
- Cost of Living Index: 184.6 (highest among all states)
- Projected Hospitality Job Market Growth (2020-2030): 24%
Hawaii’s ongoing debates about tourism significantly impact hospitality workers. Overcrowding and high tourist demand increase workloads while the state’s high cost of living strains wages. Efforts to manage tourism sustainably aim to balance visitor needs with community well-being, but for hospitality professionals, challenges like housing affordability and economic inequality persist.
50. Oregon
- Living Wage: $24.30/hour
- Annual Wage: $48,580
- Take-Home Pay: $36,827.76
- Cost of Living Index: 110.0
- Projected Hospitality Job Market Growth (2020-2030): 30%
Although Oregon has better projected growth than Hawaii, its wages are not high enough to comfortably offset the cost of living.
49. Maine
- Living Wage: $22.04/hour
- Annual Wage: $51,290
- Take-Home Pay: $39,741.68
- Cost of Living Index: 113.5
- Projected Hospitality Job Market Growth (2020-2030): 5% (lowest among the worst states)
While wages and take-home pay are higher than Oregon’s, Maine’s low projected growth hinders its overall attractiveness for hospitality professionals.
About OysterLink
OysterLink is a job platform in the restaurant and hospitality industry. It features market trends and celebrity interviews to guide career growth. Currently, OysterLink attracts over 250,000 monthly visitors and is growing.
For more information, visit oysterlink.com or contact PR Rep Ana at [email protected].
