9-5 Jobs in the Hospitality Industry: How to Find the Right One for You

With more than 15 million people working in the sector, the hospitality industry is one of th9-5-e largest employers in the United States. One reason for this large volume of staff is that many of these businesses are open to customers late at night, on the weekends, or even 24/7. That scheduling flexibility can be nice for students, parents, or those who like variety in their shifts, but less appealing for someone who wants to work a traditional office schedule.

The good news is, not every job in hospitality expects employees to work nights and holidays. There are plenty of professionals working a typical 9-5 for hotels, restaurants, and other leisure and travel businesses, and not all of them are at the top of the leadership hierarchy.  

What types of jobs in hospitality are 9-5?

Most 9-5 jobs in the hospitality industry aren’t on the customer service side of the business. Instead, they tend to be in areas like sales, management, and administration. These roles may still interact directly with customers but aren’t expected to be available for guests at all times.

Bear in mind that taking on a leadership position is not a guaranteed way to get a 9-5 schedule. A manager who oversees day-to-day operations in a restaurant, bar, or hotel will likely be expected to work when the business is busiest, and that’s normally not during the traditional work day. 

Upper-level leadership positions in a large hotel or resort, such as Director of Rooms or Guest Services Manager, are more likely to have a consistent Monday through Friday schedule. Just like leaders in other industries, though, their responsibilities may keep them at work more than 40 hours a week, so whether it counts as a true 9-5 could be debated. 

For a 40-hour weekday schedule, look for a role in human resources, sales, or accounting and finance. It’s common for every person in these departments to work a standard schedule, from an entry-level associate all the way up through the managers. 

What types of hospitality businesses hire 9-5 employees?

The size of the organization matters when you’re looking for a standard schedule in hospitality. A family-owned diner or independent bed and breakfast simply doesn’t have the need (or payroll budget) for full-time administrative roles. A larger company with multiple locations is more likely to have team members who work a 9-5 shift. These teams will often work in a corporate office, or in the back office area of a hotel or restaurant property, rather than in customer-facing roles like housekeeping or server. 

Something else to consider when the location is open. A 24-hour business like a casino or hotel is more likely to need staff outside standard business hours. On the other hand, a place like a travel agency or tourist attraction may only be open during daylight hours, and their staffing will match those business needs.  

Common education and experience for 9-5 jobs in hospitality

Most companies that hire 9-5 workers in the hospitality world look for at least a Bachelor’s degree from candidates. There is a wide variety of degrees you can get to prepare you for these roles, though. 

For leadership roles in hotels, resorts, and similar businesses, a Bachelor’s in Hospitality Management or Hotel Management will give you the skills and knowledge you need. Others start with a more general business degree, such as a Bachelor’s in Business Management or Business Administration, or focus on particular aspects of running a business with a BS in Marketing, Accounting, or HR.

While a degree is often a requirement for these roles, that doesn’t always eliminate the need to get hands-on experience in the industry. Again, this depends on the type of role you’re seeking. For positions on the financial side of the business, for example, it’s more important to have hands-on experience with bookkeeping or similar accounting tasks than it is to have worked in a hotel or restaurant. On the other end of the spectrum are management roles, where having some on the ground experience in hospitality is more important for most employers than the degree a candidate holds. 

Even if it’s not a requirement for your ideal job, getting some experience in a hospitality business can help you decide if it’s the right career path for you. One of the best entry-level positions is front desk agent. These roles don’t just see to guest needs but also serve as the nerve center for the whole hotel’s operations, giving employees in the department an inside look at how the different areas of the business work together. 

Benefits of a 9-5 job in hospitality

Higher starting salary

Many entry-level roles in hospitality start at or close to minimum wage for their state. Even experienced professionals in this field often max out at a pay of around $60,000, and an annual income in the $30,000-$40,000 range is more typical. Salaries for hospitality managers average around $60,000 and can go much higher, with top leadership at large chains often making a six-figure yearly income. Similarly, while sales associates and accountants often start at around $45,000 a year, the average is closer to $60,000 across the US, even including entry-level roles in that calculation. 

More consistent schedule week-to-week

This is one benefit of working a 9-5 in any industry: you know in advance when you’re likely to be working on any given weekday. That’s not the case for many roles in hospitality, and even those who normally have a set schedule may find themselves working outside these hours as business needs demand. 

You can work anywhere in the world.

For people who love to travel and experience new cultures, a job in hospitality is ideal. You’ll find hotels, resorts, and restaurants in every country, and native English speakers are often in high demand, especially if they’re fluent in other languages, as well. Even if you don’t decide to work in a new state or country, employees of hotels, resorts, and other leisure businesses often get discounts on travel services, letting you travel for cheaper when you get the itch. 

Drawbacks of 9-5 jobs in the hospitality industry

Higher education requirements than other hospitality jobs.

A degree isn’t a requirement for many careers in hospitality, either to get employment or to advance up the ladder. You don’t even need a high school diploma to get a job as a chef, server, or housekeeper. Many 9-5 jobs in this sector are an exception to this rule, however, and lacking a Bachelor’s could be a barrier to entry. 

It may not always be strictly 9-5.

Those who work in departments like HR, sales, or accounting typically get weekends and holidays off, and normally don’t have to worry they’ll be scheduled for overtime during busy seasons. That’s not always a guarantee, however, and working for a hospitality business can sometimes mean being on the clock outside of these standard business hours, even in roles that predominantly work a 9-5 schedule. 

Advancement may require relocation.

While there are an increasing number of remote jobs in the industry, as a rule hospitality workers are predominantly in-person, even on the corporate and back office side of things. This means physically relocating if you want to take a promotion in a different location. If you like where you live and don’t want to move, this could slow your career progress.

Where to find 9-5 jobs in hospitality

General job marketplaces like Indeed and SimplyHired let you search for hospitality jobs that have the weekends off. While these roles may not all adhere to a strict 9-5 schedule, they’ll at least be in the wheelhouse of what you’re looking for.

There are also online job marketplaces specifically for hospitality roles. One of these is Hcareers, whose job listings can be filtered by experience level, job type, and location. Another top site is Hospitality Online, which has a massive listing with more than 20,000 open jobs at any given time. iHireHospitality and HospitalityJobs.com are other websites to check out as you embark on your search. 

Another option is to go straight to the companies that hire 9-5 hospitality employees. Like was mentioned earlier, these will often be larger multi-location chains. This includes international hotel chains like Mariott, Hilton, Choice Hotels, IHG, and Wyndham Hotels and Resorts. Going straight to the company’s website is a great way to see what positions they have available and in which locations. Working with a hospitality recruiter can also be a great way to find more openings that might not be listed online. 

The Bottom Line

Hospitality is a large and vibrant industry that includes a range of businesses and roles. While a 9-5 schedule certainly isn’t typical for hospitality professionals, there are more opportunities in that category than many people realize. We hope the advice in this article has helped you gain more perspective about your options and whether a hospitality career is a good fit for your life and skills.