# Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks

US SOC code 43-4081. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/43-4081

Also called: Hotel front desk agent, Front desk clerk, Hotel receptionist, Guest services agent, Front office agent.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **261,420** US hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks, with median pay of **$35,070** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2003, the highest was **267,940**, in May 2019, close to the May 2025 count. The earliest figure here is [a Census count](https://usa.ipums.org/usa/volii/occ_ind.shtml) of **35,000** from 1900, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks: AI guest messaging + chatbots, 2017 to 2024.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 1.8% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=43-4081&ioType=o).

### AI exposure studies

- **39.7%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv)

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1829
- Latest US employment: 261,420 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [4]
- Latest US median pay: $35,070 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [10]
- Outlook: +1.8% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [25]

### In other countries

The latest figure each country's statistics agency publishes for this job. Each uses its own occupation definition, survey basis and currency, so the numbers are not directly comparable with each other or with the US figures.

- **Canada** (NOC 64314)
  - Employment, 2020: 16,715. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [7]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021: number of persons with employment income in NOC 64314 Hotel front desk clerks, Canada, reference year 2020. A recipients basis (anyone with employment income during the year), slightly broader than a point-in-time employed count. Statistics Canada Open Licence.
  - Median pay, 2020: C$33,600. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [13]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021 (Table 98-10-0586): median employment income for NOC 64314 Hotel front desk clerks, Canada, reference year 2020, full-year full-time workers (the basis comparable to the US OEWS full-time median). Statistics Canada Open Licence.

### All 29 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1900 | 35,000 | n/a | Decennial Census 1900 [1] |
| 1940 | 95,000 | n/a | Decennial Census 1940 [1] |
| 1956 | n/a | $2,600 (estimate) | Est., Prices and Wages by Decade [8] |
| 1960 | 115,000 | n/a | Decennial Census 1960 [1] |
| 1990 | 147,000 | $13,500 | BLS CPS [2] |
| 2001 | 176,920 | n/a | BLS OEWS 2001 [3] |
| 2003 | 180,410 | $17,450 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [4] |
| 2004 | 190,300 | $17,700 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [4] |
| 2005 | 207,190 | $17,810 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [4] |
| 2006 | 214,110 | $18,460 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [4] |
| 2007 | 223,210 | $18,950 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [4] |
| 2008 | 230,230 | $19,480 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [4] |
| 2009 | 224,360 | $19,820 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [4] |
| 2010 | 222,540 | $19,930 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [4] |
| 2011 | 224,430 | $20,130 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [4] |
| 2012 | 229,000 | $20,340 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [4] |
| 2013 | 234,750 | $20,400 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [4] |
| 2014 | 241,140 | $20,610 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [4] |
| 2015 | 243,210 | $21,040 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [4] |
| 2016 | 248,440 | $22,070 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [4] |
| 2017 | 253,540 | $22,850 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [4] |
| 2018 | 260,780 | $23,700 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [4] |
| 2019 | 267,940 | $24,470 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [4] |
| 2020 | 222,550 | $25,490 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [4] |
| 2021 | 220,380 | $28,080 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [4] |
| 2022 | 243,180 | $28,910 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [4] |
| 2023 | 263,800 | $30,790 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [4] |
| 2024 | 261,430 | $34,270 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [4] |
| 2025 | 261,420 | $35,070 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [4] |

## Sources (90)

### Employment series

1. [IPUMS USA — Occupation and Industry Codes (1900 Census hotel and lodging workers classification)](https://usa.ipums.org/usa/volii/occ_ind.shtml), IPUMS / University of Minnesota
2. [BLS OOH — Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks (historical employment reference)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/hotel-motel-and-resort-desk-clerks.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
3. [BLS OES 2001 national estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oes01nat.zip), Bureau of Labor Statistics
4. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
5. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2006, Table 97-563-XCB2006069 (Wage and salary statistics by occupation, NOC-S 2006), income reference year 2005](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&PID=96285), Statistics Canada
6. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
7. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Wage series

8. [Prices and Wages by Decade: 1950-1959 — compiled mid-1950s wage reference (University of Missouri Libraries)](https://libraryguides.missouri.edu/pricesandwages/1950-1959), University of Missouri Libraries
9. [BLS OOH — Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks (wage history reference)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/hotel-motel-and-resort-desk-clerks.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
10. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
11. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2006, Table 97-563-XCB2006069 (Wage and salary statistics by occupation, NOC-S 2006), income reference year 2005](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&PID=96285), Statistics Canada
12. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
13. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Tool eras

14. [Wikipedia, Tremont House (Boston): opened October 16, 1829, model for the modern hotel with a reception area and indoor plumbing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tremont_House_%28Boston%29), Wikipedia
15. [Wikipedia — History of the telephone (hotel PBX adoption, late 1880s-1900s)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_telephone), Wikipedia
16. [Wikipedia — HOLIDEX (Holiday Inn computerized reservation system, introduced 1965)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IHG_Hotels_%26_Resorts), Wikipedia
17. [Wikipedia — Micros Systems (Fidelio acquisition 1995, OPERA PMS, Oracle purchase 2014)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micros_Systems), Wikipedia
18. [Wikipedia — Expedia Group (founding 1996, online hotel booking history)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expedia_Group), Wikipedia
19. [Hotel Technology News — Hilton Digital Key reaches 5,400 properties (80% of portfolio); 135 million door openings (October 2021)](https://hoteltechnologynews.com/2021/10/hilton-opens-the-door-to-its-new-digital-key-sharing-technology/), Hotel Technology News
20. [HiJiffy — hotel chatbot product page (85%+ automation rate, 2,100+ hotels, 2025)](https://www.hijiffy.com/hotel-chatbot), HiJiffy
21. [Conduit AI — 66% standard automation; 96% optimized; 47.4M messages across 77,000+ properties (2026)](https://www.conduit.ai/blog/ai-use-cases-hotels-2025), Conduit AI
22. [AINORA 2026 AI Receptionist Guide — AI handles after-hours calls; 60-room property example: $10,350/month recovered](https://ainora.lt/blog/ai-receptionist-for-hotels-and-resorts-2026), AINORA
23. [Cloudbeds Signals — causal AI forecasts demand 90 days out; 18% RevPAR increase within 90 days (2026)](https://www.cloudbeds.com/ai/), Cloudbeds
24. [BLS OOH — Information Clerks: employment projected to decline 3% (2024-2034)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/information-clerks.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics

### Forecasts and exposure studies

25. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 43-4081 Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks (2025: 264.6 thousand; 2035: 269.5 thousand; +1.8%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=43-4081&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
26. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 43-4081.00, human-rated β 0.397)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

27. [Wikipedia, Tremont House (Boston): history and significance, opened 1829](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tremont_House_%28Boston%29), Wikipedia
28. [Wikipedia — Statler Hotels (founding 1908, operational innovations in American hospitality)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statler_Hotels), Wikipedia
29. [Wikipedia — Holiday Inn (founding 1952, motel chain expansion)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holiday_Inn), Wikipedia
30. [Wikipedia — IHG Hotels and Resorts (HOLIDEX system history, 1965)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IHG_Hotels_%26_Resorts), Wikipedia
31. [Wikipedia — Micros Systems (Fidelio acquisition 1995, OPERA PMS, Oracle purchase 2014)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micros_Systems), Wikipedia
32. [AHLA (American Hotel and Lodging Association) — impact of 9/11 on hotel employment (historical reference)](https://www.ahla.com/issue/workforce), American Hotel and Lodging Association
33. [Hotel Technology News — Hilton Digital Key reaches 5,400 properties (80% of portfolio); 135 million door openings (October 2021)](https://hoteltechnologynews.com/2021/10/hilton-opens-the-door-to-its-new-digital-key-sharing-technology/), Hotel Technology News
34. [AHLA — hotel staffing shortages: 65% of hotels with unfilled positions (2025)](https://www.conduit.ai/blog/7-best-ai-guest-communication-platforms-for-hotels-in-2026-tested-ranked), AHLA / Conduit AI

### Predecessors & successors

35. [Wikipedia, Tremont House (Boston): origin of the reception desk and hotel clerk role, 1829](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tremont_House_%28Boston%29), Wikipedia

### Present-day analysis

- [O\*NET 30.3 — Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks (43-4081.00)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/43-4081.00), accessed 2026-06-05
- [BLS OOH — Information Clerks: employment projected to decline 3% (2024-2034)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/information-clerks.htm), accessed 2026-06-05
- [HiJiffy — 85%+ automation rate, 9 out of 10 guest questions answered automatically (2025)](https://www.hijiffy.com/hotel-chatbot), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Conduit AI — 66% standard automation; 96% optimized; 47.4M messages across 77,000+ properties (2026)](https://www.conduit.ai/blog/ai-use-cases-hotels-2025), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Canary Technologies — AI handles 82% of guest messages; 20,000+ hotels in 100+ countries (2025)](https://www.canarytechnologies.com/products/hospitality-ai), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Mews IDC White Paper — 24% front desk efficiency gain; 44% of operations automated (2025)](https://www.mews.com/en/resources/research/business-value-of-mews-white-paper), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Canary 2025 HotelTechAwards — #1 Upselling Software; 4x AI upsell conversion vs. link-based](https://www.canarytechnologies.com/press/canary-sweeps-hoteltechawards-2026), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-06-05
- [AHLA 2025 — 65% of hotels still had unfilled roles; hotel employment ~10% below pre-pandemic levels](https://www.conduit.ai/blog/7-best-ai-guest-communication-platforms-for-hotels-in-2026-tested-ranked), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Canary 2025 Hotel Guest Tech Report — 70% of guests prefer contactless touchpoints; 58% believe AI can improve their stay](https://www.canarytechnologies.com/post/ai-innovations-hotels), accessed 2026-06-05
- [AINORA 2026 AI Receptionist Guide — AI handles after-hours, OTA overflow, routine concierge questions](https://ainora.lt/blog/ai-receptionist-for-hotels-and-resorts-2026), accessed 2026-06-05

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.