Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a hospitality associate
Quoted expert
Markus Schuckert
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like hospitality associates are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for hospitality associates aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research found that Massachusetts is the best state for hospitality associates, while California and Massachusetts are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Massachusetts has a median salary of $39,653 and California has the highest median salary among all 50 states for hospitality associates.
We figured that the best places for hospitality associate jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.Massachusetts is the best state, and Santa Cruz is the city with the highest pay for hospitality associates.
10 best states for hospitality associates in 2025
1. Massachusetts
Total hospitality associate jobs: 556 Average annual salary: $39,653 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 1.42. New Hampshire
Total hospitality associate jobs: 120 Average annual salary: $35,929 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location Quotient: 1.583. Vermont
Total hospitality associate jobs: 62 Average annual salary: $34,894 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 1.864. Ohio
Total hospitality associate jobs: 521 Average annual salary: $35,279 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 1.185. Pennsylvania
Total hospitality associate jobs: 576 Average annual salary: $35,776 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 1.146. Rhode Island
Total hospitality associate jobs: 64 Average annual salary: $35,542 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location Quotient: 1.227. New York
Total hospitality associate jobs: 743 Average annual salary: $35,764 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 1.348. New Jersey
Total hospitality associate jobs: 349 Average annual salary: $36,621 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 1.019. Connecticut
Total hospitality associate jobs: 217 Average annual salary: $33,313 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location Quotient: 1.5110. Delaware
Total hospitality associate jobs: 97 Average annual salary: $31,543 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 1.78
Hospitality associate jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a hospitality associate
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a hospitality associate
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $39,653 | $29,000 | 6,859,819 | 556 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $35,929 | $27,000 | 1,342,795 | 120 |
| 3 | Vermont | $34,894 | $27,000 | 623,657 | 62 |
| 4 | Ohio | $35,279 | $24,000 | 11,658,609 | 521 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $35,776 | $24,000 | 12,805,537 | 576 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $35,542 | $26,000 | 1,059,639 | 64 |
| 7 | New York | $35,764 | $25,000 | 19,849,399 | 743 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $36,621 | $25,000 | 9,005,644 | 349 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $33,313 | $24,000 | 3,588,184 | 217 |
| 10 | Delaware | $31,543 | $22,000 | 961,939 | 97 |
| 11 | California | $40,079 | $27,000 | 39,536,653 | 845 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $36,654 | $26,000 | 5,576,606 | 213 |
| 13 | Illinois | $31,750 | $22,000 | 12,802,023 | 579 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $39,348 | $27,000 | 693,972 | 46 |
| 15 | Missouri | $30,889 | $21,000 | 6,113,532 | 255 |
| 16 | Texas | $31,472 | $21,000 | 28,304,596 | 765 |
| 17 | Utah | $33,498 | $22,000 | 3,101,833 | 98 |
| 18 | Arizona | $31,053 | $21,000 | 7,016,270 | 232 |
| 19 | Arkansas | $29,588 | $20,000 | 3,004,279 | 101 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $29,549 | $21,000 | 755,393 | 34 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $28,167 | $19,000 | 5,795,483 | 374 |
| 22 | Michigan | $27,779 | $19,000 | 9,962,311 | 458 |
| 23 | Louisiana | $28,146 | $19,000 | 4,684,333 | 165 |
| 24 | Washington | $32,334 | $21,000 | 7,405,743 | 209 |
| 25 | Maine | $26,436 | $21,000 | 1,335,907 | 127 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $28,208 | $20,000 | 5,024,369 | 180 |
| 27 | Iowa | $28,150 | $19,000 | 3,145,711 | 124 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $28,852 | $19,000 | 579,315 | 17 |
| 29 | Alabama | $27,631 | $19,000 | 4,874,747 | 157 |
| 30 | Kansas | $27,686 | $19,000 | 2,913,123 | 109 |
| 31 | Montana | $27,594 | $18,000 | 1,050,493 | 45 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $27,010 | $18,000 | 3,930,864 | 147 |
| 33 | Indiana | $25,711 | $18,000 | 6,666,818 | 424 |
| 34 | Alaska | $29,568 | $25,000 | 739,795 | 28 |
| 35 | Virginia | $29,139 | $20,000 | 8,470,020 | 315 |
| 36 | Maryland | $27,941 | $19,000 | 6,052,177 | 240 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $27,214 | $23,000 | 1,427,538 | 41 |
| 38 | Georgia | $27,624 | $19,000 | 10,429,379 | 336 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $25,364 | $17,000 | 1,815,857 | 74 |
| 40 | Florida | $26,324 | $18,000 | 20,984,400 | 792 |
| 41 | Colorado | $26,462 | $18,000 | 5,607,154 | 243 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $25,051 | $17,000 | 6,715,984 | 265 |
| 43 | Idaho | $26,308 | $17,000 | 1,716,943 | 59 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $26,219 | $18,000 | 10,273,419 | 347 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $27,013 | $18,000 | 2,088,070 | 62 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $23,508 | $16,000 | 4,454,189 | 199 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $26,701 | $18,000 | 1,920,076 | 43 |
| 48 | Nevada | $25,120 | $17,000 | 2,998,039 | 71 |
| 49 | Oregon | $26,018 | $16,000 | 4,142,776 | 116 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $23,955 | $16,000 | 869,666 | 39 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $21,177 | $14,000 | 2,984,100 | 97 |
Highest paying states for hospitality associates
| Rank | State | Avg. Hospitality Associate Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $39,653 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $35,929 |
| 3 | Vermont | $34,894 |
| 4 | Ohio | $35,279 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $35,776 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $35,542 |
| 7 | New York | $35,764 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $36,621 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $33,313 |
| 10 | Delaware | $31,543 |
| 11 | California | $40,079 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $36,654 |
| 13 | Illinois | $31,750 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $39,348 |
| 15 | Missouri | $30,889 |
| 16 | Texas | $31,472 |
| 17 | Utah | $33,498 |
| 18 | Arizona | $31,053 |
| 19 | Arkansas | $29,588 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $29,549 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $28,167 |
| 22 | Michigan | $27,779 |
| 23 | Louisiana | $28,146 |
| 24 | Washington | $32,334 |
| 25 | Maine | $26,436 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $28,208 |
| 27 | Iowa | $28,150 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $28,852 |
| 29 | Alabama | $27,631 |
| 30 | Kansas | $27,686 |
| 31 | Montana | $27,594 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $27,010 |
| 33 | Indiana | $25,711 |
| 34 | Alaska | $29,568 |
| 35 | Virginia | $29,139 |
| 36 | Maryland | $27,941 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $27,214 |
| 38 | Georgia | $27,624 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $25,364 |
| 40 | Florida | $26,324 |
| 41 | Colorado | $26,462 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $25,051 |
| 43 | Idaho | $26,308 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $26,219 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $27,013 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $23,508 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $26,701 |
| 48 | Nevada | $25,120 |
| 49 | Oregon | $26,018 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $23,955 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $21,177 |
Expert opinions on the best states for hospitality associates
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for hospitality associates to find work opportunities?
Markus Schuckert
Professor and Director, University of New Orleans
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.
Hospitality associate best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common office and administrative questions.
Search for hospitality associate jobs
Updated January 8, 2025