Over 75% of front-line hospitality workers earn below the average salary of a hospitality degree holder, OysterLink study finds

NEW YORK, July 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study by OysterLink comparing labor market outcomes for hospitality graduates with industry pay data from 2020 to 2024 reveals that more than three-quarters of front-line hospitality employees earn less than the $44,000 median early-career salary of a hospitality degree holder.

According to data by the U.S. Census Bureau, through the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, graduates with a Leisure and Hospitality major earn a median wage of $44,000 early in their careers, increasing to $70,000 by mid-career. But when stacked against real-world industry wages, the findings show a striking mismatch between degree-holder expectations and actual starting pay.

In 2024, the median wage for front-line roles such as servers, bartenders, and front desk agents ranged from $30,380 to $33,760 — with even those in the 75th percentile of these jobs still falling short of the $44,000 benchmark. For example, servers earned a median of $33,760 in 2024, with 75% earning $45,350 or less.

"These findings highlight a fundamental disconnect between the value of a hospitality degree and the pay most graduates earn in their first roles," said Milos Eric, general manager and founder at OysterLink.

"If degree holders are entering jobs that pay $10,000–$15,000 less than their expected starting salary, it's no surprise that over 54.5% of hospitality graduates are underemployed and more than a third pursue graduate degrees."

Table 1: 2024 pay vs. early-career degree benchmark

The study also highlights long-term career pathways where hospitality graduates can achieve significantly higher earnings. Management-track positions such as restaurant managers and hotel managers earned 2024 median wages of $65,310 and $68,130, respectively, with top earners exceeding $105,000 and $126,000.

While these roles typically require several years of experience and advancement, they represent realistic long-term targets for graduates pursuing leadership positions in the industry.

"Front-line roles may not immediately deliver the salaries degree holders expect, but the pathway to management can change that picture," added Eric. "Hospitality employers have an opportunity to make these career ladders more accessible and transparent so graduates can see a clear progression toward higher-paying roles."

About OysterLink

OysterLink is a job platform for restaurant and hospitality professionals with over 400,000 monthly visitors. OysterLink connects talent with opportunities across the U.S., including the top server jobs in New York City or bartender jobs in Los Angeles.

The platform also offers trend reports, expert insights, and interviews with leaders in hospitality. 

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SOURCE OysterLink