$40,000+ Hospitality & Food Service Jobs in USA for Foreign Workers

The United States has one of the world’s largest hospitality and food-service industries.

Hotels, resorts, restaurants, casinos, convention centres, tourist attractions and catering companies employ millions of workers across the country.

Foreign workers can find opportunities in areas such as:

• Hotels and Resorts
• Restaurants
• Commercial Kitchens
• Catering
• Food Service
• Housekeeping
• Guest Services
• Hospitality Management
• Culinary Operations

However, salaries vary significantly by occupation.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that food preparation and serving occupations had about 2.6 million projected job openings per year from 2024 to 2034.

Higher-skilled hospitality occupations can also pay substantially more than entry-level food-service work.

For example, May 2024 BLS median wages were approximately:

Chefs and Head Cooks — $60,990/year

Food Service Managers — $65,310/year

Lodging Managers — $68,130/year

while many entry-level food-service occupations paid considerably less.

Therefore, $40,000+ is achievable in many hospitality careers, particularly as workers progress into supervisory, culinary, specialist and management positions, but it should not be treated as the minimum salary for every hospitality worker.

Why Hospitality Is Such a Large Industry in USA

The United States has an enormous domestic and international tourism market.

Hospitality businesses operate everywhere from major cities to small tourist communities.

Employers include:

• Hotels
• Resorts
• Restaurants
• Theme parks
• Casinos
• Cruise-related businesses
• Convention centres
• Catering companies
• Universities
• Hospitals
• Corporate cafeterias

Major tourism destinations create especially large concentrations of hospitality employment.

These include:

New York City

Las Vegas

Orlando

Miami

Los Angeles

Chicago

Honolulu

and many other cities.

Hospitality Salaries in USA

Hospitality is not one single occupation.

This is important when comparing salaries.

A dishwasher, restaurant cook, executive chef and hotel manager can all work in hospitality while earning very different salaries.

BLS data for May 2024 shows a median annual wage of:

$34,130

across food preparation and serving occupations as a group.

However, higher-skilled positions can pay significantly more.

Chef and Head Cook Salary

Chefs and head cooks had a BLS median annual wage of:

$60,990

in May 2024.

Within traveller accommodation, the median was even higher:

$73,110 per year.

The highest-paid chefs can earn considerably more.

BLS reports that the highest 10% earned more than:

$96,030 annually.

This makes chef careers particularly attractive within the hospitality sector.

Food Service Manager Salary

Food service managers had a median annual wage of:

$65,310

in May 2024.

Within traveller accommodation, the median was:

$79,280.

Food service managers can work in:

• Restaurants
• Hotels
• Resorts
• Cafeterias
• Catering operations
• Institutional food services

Experienced managers can earn substantially more.

Lodging Manager Salary

Lodging managers oversee hotels and other accommodation establishments.

BLS reported a May 2024 median annual wage of:

$68,130.

Their responsibilities can include:

• Guest services
• Staffing
• Operations
• Budgets
• Housekeeping coordination
• Front-desk management

Management experience can therefore significantly increase hospitality earning potential.

Cook Salary

Cooks represent one of the industry’s largest occupational groups.

The BLS median hourly wage for cooks was:

$17.19

in May 2024.

Restaurant cooks had a median of:

$17.71/hour

while cooks working in traveller accommodation had a median of:

$20.38/hour.

Therefore, the employer and hospitality setting can materially affect earnings.

Waiter and Waitress Salary

Waiters and waitresses had a median hourly wage of:

$16.23

in May 2024.

These BLS figures include tips.

Actual earnings can vary significantly according to:

• Restaurant
• Location
• Shift
• Customer volume
• Tips

A server at a high-end restaurant in a major tourist city can therefore have a very different income from someone working at a smaller establishment.

Monthly Salary Examples

At:

$40,000/year

gross monthly income averages approximately:

$3,333.

At:

$50,000/year

it is approximately:

$4,167.

At:

$60,000/year

it is:

$5,000.

At:

$70,000/year

it is approximately:

$5,833.

At:

$80,000/year

it is approximately:

$6,667.

These amounts are before applicable federal, state and local taxes and payroll deductions.

Use the salary calculator for planning only. Actual U.S. take-home income depends on state, filing status, deductions and individual tax circumstances.

Hotel Jobs in USA

Hotels employ workers across several departments.

Jobs can include:

• Front Desk Agent
• Housekeeper
• Guest Services Agent
• Hotel Supervisor
• Maintenance Worker
• Restaurant Worker
• Cook
• Chef
• Food Service Manager
• Lodging Manager

Large resorts can employ hundreds or thousands of workers.

Resort Jobs

Resorts can provide particularly interesting opportunities because staffing needs can change significantly between seasons.

Jobs can include:

• Kitchen workers
• Cooks
• Servers
• Housekeepers
• Guest-service workers
• Maintenance workers
• Supervisors

Seasonal staffing patterns can also be relevant to certain U.S. temporary-worker programmes.

Restaurant Jobs

Restaurants employ enormous numbers of workers throughout the United States.

BLS data shows that restaurant cooks alone accounted for more than 1.4 million jobs in May 2024 occupational wage estimates.

Restaurant roles can include:

• Cook
• Chef
• Kitchen Assistant
• Dishwasher
• Server
• Host
• Supervisor
• Restaurant Manager

Chef Jobs

Experienced chefs can be among the stronger-paid workers in the food-service industry.

Positions can include:

• Sous Chef
• Head Chef
• Executive Chef
• Pastry Chef
• Banquet Chef
• Hotel Chef

Strong culinary experience can create opportunities for advancement into management.

Kitchen Assistant Jobs

Kitchen assistants help with:

• Food preparation
• Cleaning
• Ingredient organisation
• Storage
• Kitchen operations

These positions generally have lower entry barriers but also tend to pay less than skilled chef positions.

Dishwasher Jobs

Dishwashers clean:

• Plates
• Glassware
• Cooking equipment
• Kitchen utensils

and help maintain kitchen sanitation.

BLS May 2024 estimates showed hundreds of thousands of dishwasher positions nationwide.

Housekeeping Jobs

Hotels and resorts require large housekeeping teams.

BLS industry data shows more than 417,000 maids and housekeeping cleaners working in traveller accommodation in May 2024.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Cleaning guest rooms
• Replacing linens
• Preparing rooms
• Restocking supplies
• Maintaining cleanliness

Housekeeping can be physically demanding.

Hotel Front Desk Jobs

Hotel front-desk workers help guests with:

• Check-in
• Check-out
• Reservations
• Payments
• Questions
• Complaints

BLS industry data counted more than 242,000 hotel, motel and resort desk clerks in traveller accommodation in May 2024.

Communication and customer-service skills are particularly important.

Catering Jobs

Catering companies provide food for:

• Weddings
• Conferences
• Corporate events
• Festivals
• Private events

Jobs can include:

• Cooks
• Servers
• Food preparation workers
• Supervisors
• Catering managers

Work can be irregular because demand depends on events.

Hospitality Jobs in Florida

Florida is one of America’s largest tourism markets.

Important destinations include:

• Orlando
• Miami
• Tampa
• Fort Lauderdale

Major industries include:

• Hotels
• Theme parks
• Resorts
• Restaurants
• Cruise tourism

Seasonal demand can create significant staffing requirements.

Hospitality Jobs in California

California has enormous hospitality markets around:

• Los Angeles
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• Anaheim

Tourism, restaurants, entertainment and conventions create substantial employment.

However, living costs can be high in several California cities.

Hospitality Jobs in Nevada

Las Vegas makes Nevada particularly important for hospitality.

The city has a huge concentration of:

• Hotels
• Casinos
• Restaurants
• Resorts
• Entertainment venues

Hospitality experience can therefore be highly relevant.

Hospitality Jobs in New York

New York City has thousands of:

• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Bars
• Event venues

Workers can potentially earn higher wages, but housing and living costs are also high.

Hospitality Jobs in Texas

Texas has major hospitality markets around:

• Houston
• Dallas
• Austin
• San Antonio

The state’s large population also creates substantial restaurant and hotel demand independent of tourism.

Can Foreigners Work in Hospitality in USA?

Yes, provided they have appropriate U.S. employment authorization.

For people who already possess unrestricted U.S. work rights, hospitality provides an enormous labour market.

For applicants living overseas who require sponsorship, the situation is more complicated.

There is no general:

“USA Hospitality Visa.”

A foreign worker needs to qualify through an existing immigration programme.

H-2B Visa for Hospitality Workers

One of the most relevant programmes for certain hospitality employers is:

H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers.

The U.S. Department of Labor states that H-2B allows qualifying employers to hire foreign workers for temporary non-agricultural services or labour.

The employer’s need must be temporary and fit one of four categories:

• One-time occurrence
• Seasonal need
• Peak-load need
• Intermittent need

This can make H-2B relevant to some:

• Seasonal resorts
• Hotels
• Tourist businesses
• Hospitality operations

when the employer genuinely has a qualifying temporary need.

H-2B Is Not a General Hotel Visa

This distinction is extremely important.

A hotel cannot simply decide:

“We want permanent foreign workers.”

and automatically use H-2B.

The employer must demonstrate a qualifying temporary need.

Therefore:

hotel vacancy ≠ H-2B eligibility.

H-2B Employer Process

Before petitioning USCIS for H-2B workers, an employer generally needs an approved temporary labour certification from the U.S. Department of Labor.

The process includes:

• Prevailing wage determination
• Job order
• Temporary labour certification application
• U.S. worker recruitment
• Certification decision
• Immigration petition

The Department of Labor also requires recruitment designed to make the opportunity available to U.S. workers.

Seasonal Resort Jobs

Seasonal resorts are among the more obvious hospitality environments where temporary staffing needs can occur.

Examples can include:

summer resorts

or:

winter resorts.

Positions can potentially involve:

• Housekeeping
• Kitchen work
• Food service
• Hospitality support

when the employer has an approved H-2B need.

H-1B and Hospitality

Typical:

• Waiter
• Housekeeper
• Kitchen assistant
• Dishwasher
• Ordinary cook

positions generally do not fit the traditional H-1B specialty-occupation structure.

Higher-level professional hospitality roles can have different circumstances, but applicants should never assume that ordinary hotel employment qualifies for H-1B.

Permanent Employer Sponsorship

Employment-based permanent immigration can potentially exist in individual circumstances.

However, employers generally face substantial immigration and labour-certification requirements.

Therefore:

hospitality job ≠ automatic green-card sponsorship.

Hospitality Jobs With Accommodation

Some seasonal hospitality employers can provide:

• Employee housing
• Shared accommodation
• Meals
• Transportation

depending on the workplace.

Applicants should determine whether accommodation is:

free

or:

deducted from wages.

Read the employment terms carefully.

Tips

Some hospitality workers can receive tips.

These can include:

• Servers
• Bartenders
• Hotel service workers

BLS wage data for waiters and waitresses includes tips.

Tip income can vary dramatically according to establishment and location.

Working Hours

Hospitality does not operate only Monday to Friday.

Workers can be scheduled for:

• Early mornings
• Nights
• Weekends
• Public holidays

Food service managers, for example, frequently work evenings, weekends and holidays.

Applicants should expect flexible schedules.

English Ability

Customer-facing hospitality jobs generally require good communication.

Workers may need to communicate with:

• Guests
• Customers
• Supervisors
• Kitchen staff
• Colleagues

Back-of-house positions can have different communication requirements, but workplace English remains valuable.

Hospitality Experience

Experience can significantly improve earning potential.

A worker might progress from:

Kitchen Assistant → Cook → Chef → Head Chef

or:

Server → Supervisor → Restaurant Manager

or:

Front Desk Agent → Supervisor → Lodging Manager.

This progression helps explain why some hospitality workers earn below $40,000 while managers and experienced culinary professionals can earn well above $60,000.

How Long Does the Process Take?

Someone already authorised to work in America can have a relatively simple process:

1. Prepare a resume.
2. Search for vacancies.
3. Apply.
4. Interview.
5. Complete employer screening.
6. Start work.

For an overseas H-2B applicant, the process is much more involved:

1. Employer establishes a temporary need.
2. Employer requests prevailing wage.
3. Employer files the required job order and temporary labour certification.
4. U.S. worker recruitment occurs.
5. Department of Labor issues its determination.
6. Employer completes the applicable immigration petition process.
7. Worker completes visa procedures.
8. Worker travels to the United States if approved.
9. Worker begins authorised temporary employment.

The Department of Labor instructs employers to request the prevailing wage at least 60 days before it is needed and generally file the H-2B application and job order 75–90 days before the date of need.

The wait-time calculator provides a planning estimate only. It does not guarantee recruitment, temporary labour certification, H-2B availability, USCIS petition processing, visa appointments, visa approval, travel timing or any U.S. government decision.

Can Family Members Come?

Family options depend on the worker’s immigration category.

Workers should check the rules for their specific visa concerning:

• Spouses
• Children
• Employment rights
• Length of stay

Do not assume every employment visa provides identical family benefits.

Can Hospitality Work Lead to a Green Card?

Not automatically.

Temporary employment, including qualifying H-2B employment, should not be marketed as an automatic route to permanent residence.

A worker would need to independently qualify through an appropriate U.S. immigration category.

Therefore:

hospitality job ≠ guaranteed green card.

Hospitality Job Scams

International hospitality recruitment attracts scammers.

Be cautious of claims such as:

“Guaranteed USA hotel visa.”

“Pay $7,000 for H-2B sponsorship.”

“Guaranteed hotel job and green card.”

“No interview required.”

“Permanent H-2B visa.”

Verify:

• Employer
• Job
• Salary
• Temporary need
• Immigration category
• Employment conditions

before paying anyone.

Building a Hospitality Resume

A strong hospitality resume should highlight:

• Relevant experience
• Customer service
• Food preparation
• Hotel experience
• Kitchen experience
• Management experience
• Safety
• Reliability

Use measurable achievements where possible.

For example:

“Managed daily kitchen operations serving 300+ guests while maintaining food-safety standards.”

when accurate.

Chef Resume

Chefs should highlight:

• Cuisine
• Years of experience
• Kitchen management
• Menu development
• Food safety
• Team leadership
• High-volume service

Senior culinary applicants should make management experience clear.

Hotel Resume

Hotel applicants should highlight:

• Guest service
• Reservations
• Front desk
• Housekeeping
• Property-management systems
• Complaint resolution
• Languages

International hospitality experience can be valuable.

Documents to Prepare

Useful documents can include:

• Passport
• Resume
• Employment references
• Culinary certificates
• Hospitality qualifications
• Food-safety certificates
• Education records

If immigration sponsorship applies, additional documents will be required.

How to Find Hospitality Jobs

Useful searches include:

• Hospitality jobs USA
• Hotel jobs USA
• Resort jobs USA
• Chef jobs USA
• Cook jobs USA
• Food service jobs USA
• Seasonal resort jobs USA
• H-2B hospitality jobs
• Hotel housekeeping USA
• Food service manager USA
• Lodging manager USA

For temporary foreign-worker opportunities, applicants should verify that the position is connected to a legitimate employer and genuine immigration process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can foreigners work in U.S. hotels and restaurants?

Yes, if they have appropriate U.S. employment authorization.

Can hospitality workers earn $40,000+?

Yes, particularly in supervisory, management and skilled culinary positions. However, many entry-level hospitality jobs earn less than $40,000.

How much do chefs earn?

The BLS median annual wage for chefs and head cooks was $60,990 in May 2024.

How much do food service managers earn?

The May 2024 BLS median was $65,310 annually.

How much do lodging managers earn?

The BLS median annual wage was $68,130 in May 2024.

Can hotels sponsor H-2B workers?

Potentially, where the employer has a genuine temporary need satisfying the H-2B requirements.

Is H-2B permanent?

No. H-2B is a temporary non-agricultural worker programme.

Does an American hospitality job guarantee a green card?

No.

Final Thoughts

The United States offers an enormous hospitality and food-service labour market.

BLS projects approximately:

2.6 million openings per year

across food preparation and serving occupations from 2024 to 2034.

Earnings vary substantially by occupation.

Entry-level food-service positions frequently pay below $40,000, while experienced workers can progress into considerably stronger-paying careers.

Official May 2024 median wages include:

Chefs and Head Cooks — $60,990

Food Service Managers — $65,310

Lodging Managers — $68,130.

For foreign workers, certain genuinely temporary hospitality positions can potentially use the H-2B programme where the employer satisfies the temporary-need and labour-certification requirements.

However:

hospitality vacancy ≠ visa sponsorship

hotel job ≠ automatic H-2B eligibility

H-2B ≠ permanent immigration

and:

hospitality employment ≠ guaranteed green card.

Foreign applicants should target genuine employers, compare salaries with local living costs and verify the exact immigration pathway before paying recruiters or making relocation plans.

ⓘ

Important Disclosure

MimBlog is an independent information website and is not a recruitment agency, employer, immigration authority or government agency. Salaries are estimates and may vary by employer, experience and location. Job availability and immigration requirements can change. Always verify vacancies, eligibility and visa requirements through employers and official government sources.