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Job outlook for guest service specialists in the United States
Guest service specialist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected guest service specialist job growth rate is -4% from 2018-2028.
About -105,300 new jobs for guest service specialists are projected over the next decade.
Guest service specialist salaries have increased 11% for guest service specialists in the last 5 years.
There are over 216,079 guest service specialists currently employed in the United States.
There are 210,145 active guest service specialist job openings in the US.
The average guest service specialist salary is $32,603.
Are guest service specialist jobs in demand?
Guest service specialist job and salary trends over time
Guest service specialist jobs over time
Guest service specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 216,079 | 0.06% |
| 2020 | 219,659 | 0.07% |
| 2019 | 226,325 | 0.07% |
| 2018 | 222,617 | 0.07% |
| 2017 | 214,584 | 0.07% |
Average guest service specialist salary over time
Guest service specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $32,603 | $15.67 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $31,584 | $15.18 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $30,710 | $14.76 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | $29,928 | $14.39 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $29,391 | $14.13 | +1.8% |
Guest service specialist jobs by state
Most common states for guest service specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 534 | 71% |
| 2 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 2,187 | 70% |
| 3 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 923 | 69% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 3,264 | 59% |
| 5 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 507 | 58% |
| 6 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 556 | 53% |
| 7 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 1,002 | 52% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 639 | 48% |
| 9 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 850 | 47% |
| 10 | Delaware | 961,939 | 446 | 46% |
| 11 | Vermont | 623,657 | 289 | 46% |
| 12 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 2,613 | 45% |
| 13 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 260 | 45% |
| 14 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,999 | 44% |
| 15 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 1,285 | 44% |
| 16 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 465 | 44% |
| 17 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 2,862 | 43% |
| 18 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 2,644 | 43% |
| 19 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 1,890 | 42% |
| 20 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 1,210 | 39% |
Most common cities for guest service specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Balch Springs | 2 | 8% | $26,003 |
| 2 | Alton | 2 | 7% | $27,484 |
| 3 | Orion | 2 | 6% | $30,951 |
| 4 | Duncanville | 2 | 5% | $26,028 |
| 5 | Brentwood | 2 | 3% | $34,964 |
| 6 | Ann Arbor | 2 | 2% | $30,615 |
| 7 | San Marcos | 2 | 2% | $33,551 |
| 8 | Grand Prairie | 2 | 1% | $26,025 |
| 9 | Dallas | 3 | 0% | $25,999 |
| 10 | Chicago | 2 | 0% | $28,717 |
| 11 | Fort Worth | 2 | 0% | $26,022 |
| 12 | Sacramento | 2 | 0% | $34,548 |
| 13 | Arlington | 1 | 0% | $32,916 |
| 14 | Austin | 1 | 0% | $26,636 |
Guest Service Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of guest service specialist experts
Charleston Southern University
Paul Smith's College of Arts & Sciences
Kansas State University
Missouri State University
University of Central Florida
Florida International University
Missouri State University
ICHRIE
Kennesaw State University
University of New Orleans
Temple University
What general advice would you give to a Guest Service Specialist?
Mamie Hertel II: Gain diverse experiences to distinguish yourself, such as obtaining a commercial pesticide applicator’s license, pursuing a minor in business or acquiring certificates in relevant fields (e.g., Landscape, V&E;), ideally supplementing with proficiency in Spanish. Foster connections and exude confidence in interviews without overemphasis. Articulate convincingly why you are the ideal candidate. Embrace collaborative work, honing excellent communication skills and a passion for teaching, even in research roles. Anticipate your professional trajectory, recognizing the growing demand for adept managers in controlled environment horticulture. Extend your skill set beyond academia through online courses and workshops, preparing for potential relocations to regions where your expertise is valued. Pursue specialization through certifications or advanced degrees, while actively building a robust professional network.
What Guest Service Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mamie Hertel II: Gain proficiency in technology and adeptness in data management, acknowledging the inevitability of change and embracing it. Master technology applications spanning genetic engineering, biotechnology, remote sensing, automation, AI and climate-conscious production methods.
Sally Hiott B.S. MBA, DBA
Assistant Professor of MarketingCharleston Southern University
Accounting And Related Services
What general advice would you give to a Guest Service Specialist?
Sally Hiott B.S. MBA, DBA: Show employers how you would not only fill an open position regarding the work at hand, but show them how you would be an asset to their team. We are in very team driven work environments currently, and hiring managers want to know what you can bring to the table. Filling a void is great for the workload, but enhancing a team culture makes them not want to work without you!
Joe Conto
Associate ProfessorPaul Smith's College of Arts & Sciences
Department of Business & Hospitality
What skills stand out on Guest Service Specialist resumes?
Joe Conto: The skills that stand out on a resume remain the same as they did prior to the pandemic; critical thinking, problem-solving, active listening, and working independently. However, simply "listing" these under the Skills section of a resume is not enough. A good hiring agent or human resources professional is going to look for supporting information for these claims in the experience, interests, and activities sections of the same resume. Therefore, a claim of skill only stands out if it is supported elsewhere in the resume.
What soft skills should all Guest Service Specialists possess?
Joe Conto: Critical thinking, empathy, and problem-solving are the three most important soft skills an employee can possess. In developing these skills, many other soft skills are automatically embedded; active listening, emotional intelligence, and collaboration, for instance, are all aspects of the umbrella of "soft skills." Having employees who possess other soft skills associated with strong customer service (friendliness, positive thinking, and language skills, for instance) are not effective if these larger overall skills are not present.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Guest Service Specialists?
Joe Conto: As a hiring manager in high-end hotels and country clubs, I paid little attention to most technical skills. If an applicant possesses the soft skills outlined above, I was typically certain that training could provide the necessary technical skills. Therefore, I always advise students to "work on purpose" during internships and other work experiences in order to not only learn hard skills but also develop the soft skills listed above.
What technical skills for a Guest Service Specialist stand out to employers?
Brett Horton Ph.D.: The skills that employers are looking for will be to have team members who can offer excellence in experiential hospitality. The ideas behind running operating systems, managing events, creating food and space that wows the guest who so desires to partake of this amazing industry will require employees who are amazingly flexible and passionately hospitable.
Operating a large hotel is like managing a small city. All the technical skills from accounting and finance to personal management and facilities are needed. The key will be finding the team as conventions are soon booked back into these large hotels.
What soft skills should all Guest Service Specialists possess?
Dr. Stephanie Hein: Now, more than ever, graduates need to possess strong communication skills, adaptability, creative thinking, and the ability to work collaboratively with others in both a face-to-face and digital environment.
How have salaries changed over time for Guest Service Specialists?
Dr. Stephanie Hein: Salaries for hospitality professionals have continued to climb particularly as the skill set needed to succeed becomes more complex. Additionally, the short supply of talent has also been a contributing factor in the increase of salary ranges.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Guest Service Specialists?
Gisele Canova: Not certificates but skills: Emotional intelligence, team building/leading.
Lourdes Torres
Assistant Director, Employer RelationsFlorida International University
Career Development Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Guest Service Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Lourdes Torres: Currently, a number of partners/employers are expressing a need for students with the skillsets and availability to work remotely. The permanent rise in remote work is an increasing trend I see not only for now, but for the foreseeable future. In addition, there will also be an increased wave of requests for students who are open to experimentation and innovation regarding flexible/hybrid work roles.
What Guest Service Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Lourdes Torres: I would say the top skills that students should try to enhance and are being requested from our corporate partners are:
-Creativity and innovation
-Project management skills
-Technological skills
-Communication
-Critical Thinking
FIU students can learn more about these areas by taking courses through a platform called 'LinkedIn Learning.' LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform that enables FIU faculty, staff, and students to discover and develop skills through an online library of high-quality expert-led videos. It is free for all students and they can login and register through their FIU accounts. I do, however, encourage graduates if they can to pursue taking online courses/certifications. There are many free and paid resources available online.
What general advice would you give to a Guest Service Specialist?
Lourdes Torres: I would tell graduates to be open to change, keep moving forward, and prepare for your future!
Dr. Jerry Masterson Ph.D.
Professor, Program Director, Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs (MPS/MSIS)Missouri State University
Graduate College
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Guest Service Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Jerry Masterson Ph.D.: Moving online and global.
What skills stand out on Guest Service Specialist resumes?
Dr. Jerry Masterson Ph.D.: Our students get a leadership perspective from multiple disciplines. Business, psychology, communication, computer science, professional writing. This perspective might allow them to work with most anyone as they will understand the language of the discipline.
What general advice would you give to a Guest Service Specialist?
Steve Hood: Hospitality and tourism graduates of 2020 are faced with a similar challenge as hotels in the current COVID situation. Many are having to think outside the box and reinvent themselves. It may mean looking at different chains, different locations, and different roles, but there are still opportunities.
How do you envision technology impacting Guest Service Specialists in the next 5 years?
Melih Madanoglu: The technology is expected to have a profound impact on the hospitality business, both for firms and guests. In hotels, robots may be handling most of the housekeeping tasks, with some supervision and programming by humans. Contactless payments through retina recognition technology etc. may become commonplace in hotels and restaurants. Some hotels, restaurants, and airlines may indeed implement various operating modes such as regular, pre-crisis, and crisis. Based on these operating modes, the technology may replace some of the tasks handled by humans. Once the business returns to normal, the technology can switch the entire operation to the regular mode, which may include scheduling, operating procedures, guest communication, etc. In other words, the mode of operation can be both implemented and facilitated by technology.
Markus Schuckert
Professor and DirectorUniversity of New Orleans
Lester E. Kabacoff School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Administration
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Guest Service Specialists to find work opportunities?
Markus Schuckert: Yes, high-density tourism destinations, like New Orleans, are potentially good places to find work. The industry is able to hire fast if the demand picks up. A part-time job can be rolled over into full-time if needed. Usually, there is an excess supply of jobs in the hospitality and tourism industry, as it is in the service sector in general.
How do you envision technology impacting Guest Service Specialists in the next 5 years?
Markus Schuckert: Technology will help the industry to maintain a business in a different environment. Under Covid19, the old formula of "high tech - high touch" in hospitality does not work anymore without rethinking it. The new paradigm is high tech - low touch approach to maintain high service and delivery standards but minimizing contact where possible. This is, at least for the time being. Trends to come can be seen by the restaurant of tomorrow's approach of Burger King, for example. High tech - high touch will return or remain with a premium, based on low volume and increased safety and hygiene protocols. Technology will support that in terms of communication, tracking, and big data. Especially business optimizing software, and visitor/customer management systems will be needed to run businesses differently. On the revenue management side, new revenue and pricing models need to be developed to stay in business successfully. This closes the loop to question 1: new graduates come with the latest technological knowledge and the power of ideas of the young (next) generation.
Lindsey Lee Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorTemple University
Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Guest Service Specialists?
Lindsey Lee Ph.D.: I believe there will be a positive, lasting impact of the pandemic on our graduates. They are more agile and experienced with crises-they were able to adapt and innovate at a very fast pace, and future employers should keep their eyes open for recent graduates that have not only endured the pandemic but are able to put book knowledge into practice.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Guest Service Specialists to find work opportunities?
Lindsey Lee Ph.D.: While local, state, and government regulations are still changing and updating on a daily basis, in my opinion, graduates should not limit themselves to one place in the United States. The hospitality and tourism industry has an ebb and flow, and the best part of the industry is the freedom and flexibility to work in a variety of locations. Although certain locations seem to be further along in the re-opening process and this may be an advantage for the job market, there is always a need for great employees to provide quality customer service for our guests regardless of location.
How do you envision technology impacting Guest Service Specialists in the next 5 years?
Lindsey Lee Ph.D.: Although there was a major shift to technology during the pandemic, the hospitality and tourism industry is still a human interaction and human touch industry. The tangible products between competitors are essentially the same-a bed for hotels, a meal for restaurants, a flight for airlines-but the intangible, customer-service product of the industry is what differentiates one organization from its competitor. I believe that while customer service may look different in a post-COVID world, there is still going to be a need for human interactions and the human aspects of the hospitality and tourism industry that technology might not provide.