Best states for a hotel general manager

Q: What is the best state for hotel general managers?

The best state to be a hotel general manager is California based on hotel general manager salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for hotel general managers?

The highest paying state for hotel general managers is Oklahoma based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for hotel general managers?

The worst state for hotel general managers is Vermont, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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Are you thinking of becoming a hotel general manager and really want to work at Goodwin Recruiting? Turns out, your chances to become a hotel general manager are better in some states than others.This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for hotel general manager jobs.

In order to get you the best states for hotel general managers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a hotel general manager, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for hotel general managers in 2026

1. California
Total hotel general manager jobs: 11,175
Average annual salary: $84,953
Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000
Location Quotient:
1.06
Hotel general manager jobs in California
2. New York
Total hotel general manager jobs: 4,726
Average annual salary: $81,524
Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000
Location Quotient:
1.02
Hotel general manager jobs in New York
3. Colorado
Total hotel general manager jobs: 1,905
Average annual salary: $81,429
Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000
Location Quotient:
0.89
Hotel general manager jobs in Colorado
4. Pennsylvania
Total hotel general manager jobs: 3,724
Average annual salary: $71,115
Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000
Location Quotient:
0.89
Hotel general manager jobs in Pennsylvania
5. Tennessee
Total hotel general manager jobs: 2,399
Average annual salary: $60,053
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000
Location Quotient:
1.13
Hotel general manager jobs in Tennessee
6. New Jersey
Total hotel general manager jobs: 2,748
Average annual salary: $71,081
Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000
Location Quotient:
0.96
Hotel general manager jobs in New Jersey
7. Washington
Total hotel general manager jobs: 2,332
Average annual salary: $73,223
Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000
Location Quotient:
0.89
Hotel general manager jobs in Washington
8. Connecticut
Total hotel general manager jobs: 1,140
Average annual salary: $69,389
Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000
Location Quotient:
0.95
Hotel general manager jobs in Connecticut
9. Rhode Island
Total hotel general manager jobs: 374
Average annual salary: $71,003
Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000
Location Quotient:
0.85
Hotel general manager jobs in Rhode Island
10. Wisconsin
Total hotel general manager jobs: 1,868
Average annual salary: $64,885
Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000
Location Quotient:
0.94
Hotel general manager jobs in Wisconsin

Hotel general manager jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a hotel general manager

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a hotel general manager

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	California	$84,953	$52,000	39,536,653	11,175
2	New York	$81,524	$53,000	19,849,399	4,726
3	Colorado	$81,429	$55,000	5,607,154	1,905
4	Pennsylvania	$71,115	$46,000	12,805,537	3,724
5	Tennessee	$60,053	$40,000	6,715,984	2,399
6	New Jersey	$71,081	$46,000	9,005,644	2,748
7	Washington	$73,223	$47,000	7,405,743	2,332
8	Connecticut	$69,389	$45,000	3,588,184	1,140
9	Rhode Island	$71,003	$47,000	1,059,639	374
10	Wisconsin	$64,885	$43,000	5,795,483	1,868
11	Nevada	$64,998	$40,000	2,998,039	730
12	Oregon	$67,528	$43,000	4,142,776	1,359
13	New Hampshire	$64,337	$43,000	1,342,795	573
14	District of Columbia	$75,290	$49,000	693,972	520
15	Michigan	$58,191	$38,000	9,962,311	3,026
16	Delaware	$64,215	$41,000	961,939	421
17	Indiana	$57,612	$38,000	6,666,818	2,678
18	Texas	$57,724	$37,000	28,304,596	8,448
19	Georgia	$59,259	$39,000	10,429,379	3,802
20	Nebraska	$62,290	$43,000	1,920,076	655
21	Virginia	$64,024	$41,000	8,470,020	3,184
22	Massachusetts	$65,727	$43,000	6,859,819	2,784
23	South Dakota	$61,891	$43,000	869,666	248
24	Arizona	$58,871	$37,000	7,016,270	2,090
25	Illinois	$58,648	$39,000	12,802,023	4,329
26	Hawaii	$63,715	$47,000	1,427,538	296
27	Alaska	$65,454	$50,000	739,795	222
28	Minnesota	$60,928	$41,000	5,576,606	2,088
29	North Carolina	$55,970	$36,000	10,273,419	3,709
30	Alabama	$52,756	$35,000	4,874,747	1,819
31	Florida	$56,705	$37,000	20,984,400	5,521
32	Maryland	$60,745	$39,000	6,052,177	2,125
33	Missouri	$54,802	$37,000	6,113,532	2,163
34	North Dakota	$58,298	$40,000	755,393	236
35	Iowa	$56,421	$39,000	3,145,711	1,128
36	Ohio	$50,048	$33,000	11,658,609	4,037
37	Kansas	$50,942	$34,000	2,913,123	1,119
38	South Carolina	$48,532	$31,000	5,024,369	1,877
39	Utah	$53,233	$34,000	3,101,833	1,125
40	Maine	$56,908	$38,000	1,335,907	359
41	Louisiana	$49,689	$32,000	4,684,333	1,176
42	Kentucky	$46,073	$30,000	4,454,189	1,607
43	West Virginia	$47,149	$30,000	1,815,857	567
44	Idaho	$55,313	$35,000	1,716,943	442
45	Wyoming	$47,016	$32,000	579,315	207
46	Montana	$48,411	$32,000	1,050,493	382
47	Mississippi	$44,984	$30,000	2,984,100	747
48	New Mexico	$48,892	$31,000	2,088,070	609
49	Oklahoma	$42,874	$28,000	3,930,864	1,087
50	Arkansas	$44,265	$29,000	3,004,279	892
51	Vermont	$49,993	$33,000	623,657	182

Highest paying states for hotel general managers

Rank	State	Avg. Hotel General Manager Salary
1	California	$84,953
2	New York	$81,524
3	Colorado	$81,429
4	Pennsylvania	$71,115
5	Tennessee	$60,053
6	New Jersey	$71,081
7	Washington	$73,223
8	Connecticut	$69,389
9	Rhode Island	$71,003
10	Wisconsin	$64,885
11	Nevada	$64,998
12	Oregon	$67,528
13	New Hampshire	$64,337
14	District of Columbia	$75,290
15	Michigan	$58,191
16	Delaware	$64,215
17	Indiana	$57,612
18	Texas	$57,724
19	Georgia	$59,259
20	Nebraska	$62,290
21	Virginia	$64,024
22	Massachusetts	$65,727
23	South Dakota	$61,891
24	Arizona	$58,871
25	Illinois	$58,648
26	Hawaii	$63,715
27	Alaska	$65,454
28	Minnesota	$60,928
29	North Carolina	$55,970
30	Alabama	$52,756
31	Florida	$56,705
32	Maryland	$60,745
33	Missouri	$54,802
34	North Dakota	$58,298
35	Iowa	$56,421
36	Ohio	$50,048
37	Kansas	$50,942
38	South Carolina	$48,532
39	Utah	$53,233
40	Maine	$56,908
41	Louisiana	$49,689
42	Kentucky	$46,073
43	West Virginia	$47,149
44	Idaho	$55,313
45	Wyoming	$47,016
46	Montana	$48,411
47	Mississippi	$44,984
48	New Mexico	$48,892
49	Oklahoma	$42,874
50	Arkansas	$44,265
51	Vermont	$49,993

Best states for a hotel general manager

10 best states for hotel general managers in 2026

1. California

2. New York

3. Colorado

4. Pennsylvania

5. Tennessee

6. New Jersey

7. Washington

8. Connecticut

9. Rhode Island

10. Wisconsin

Hotel general manager jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a hotel general manager

Detailed list of the best states for a hotel general manager

Highest paying states for hotel general managers

Hotel general manager best states FAQs

What is the best state for hotel general managers?

What is the highest paying state for hotel general managers?

What is the worst state for hotel general managers?

Search for hotel general manager jobs

Total hotel general manager jobs:	11,175
Average annual salary:	$84,953
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$52,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$137,000
Location Quotient:	1.06