What is the best state to be a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Hawaii is the best state for a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks: a BLS median of $59,110 is worth $51,066 after the 2025 state income tax ($2,962) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 110.0), an index of 147.5 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. Hawaii has the highest headline BLS median for a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks at $59,110, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 147.5). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

Where does a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks salary go least far?

West Virginia ranks last of 51 states for a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks: a $26,830 BLS median is worth only $29,240 after tax and cost of living (index 84.5). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks

Best States to Be a Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks salary goes furthest in Hawaii — a $59,110 BLS median worth $51,066 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 147.5).

Which US states are best for a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks after cost of living and tax?

For a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Hawaii #1: a $59,110 BLS median becomes $51,066 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 147.5). West Virginia ranks last ($29,240, index 84.5). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Hawaii ranks #1 of 51 states for a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks. Index 100 = the average state; 147.5 means pay goes 47.5% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

147.5

Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	Hawaii	$59,110	$2,962	110.0	$51,066	147.5
2	Vermont	$44,940	$1,087	98.0	$44,767	129.3
3	District of Columbia	$47,060	$1,724	109.9	$41,252	119.2
4	Nevada	$38,900	—	100.0	$38,908	112.4
5	North Dakota	$34,530	—	89.0	$38,816	112.1
6	Wyoming	$35,050	—	92.7	$37,814	109.2
7	Washington	$40,460	—	107.0	$37,808	109.2
8	Maine	$37,380	$999	97.0	$37,487	108.3
9	Missouri	$34,560	$743	90.8	$37,236	107.6
10	Wisconsin	$35,360	$796	94.1	$36,733	106.1
11	Alaska	$37,500	—	102.4	$36,636	105.8
12	Montana	$35,330	$956	94.6	$36,319	104.9
13	Rhode Island	$37,840	$819	102.3	$36,196	104.5
14	New Hampshire	$37,300	—	104.2	$35,809	103.4
15	Minnesota	$36,320	$1,143	98.6	$35,669	103.0
16	Massachusetts	$39,400	$1,750	105.8	$35,600	102.8
17	Arizona	$35,880	$422	100.7	$35,220	101.7
18	California	$39,360	$586	110.7	$35,020	101.2
19	Utah	$36,250	$1,649	98.9	$34,998	101.1
20	Connecticut	$37,000	$740	103.6	$34,997	101.1
21	Colorado	$36,750	$957	103.1	$34,733	100.3
22	Idaho	$33,870	$809	95.5	$34,622	100.0
23	Indiana	$33,280	$968	93.3	$34,621	100.0
24	Delaware	$35,730	$1,306	99.8	$34,490	99.6
25	South Dakota	$30,550	—	88.6	$34,486	99.6
26	New Jersey	$38,110	$616	108.8	$34,459	99.5
27	New York	$38,590	$1,517	107.9	$34,352	99.2
28	Nebraska	$31,490	$590	90.1	$34,294	99.1
29	Michigan	$33,870	$1,193	96.2	$33,962	98.1
30	Florida	$35,030	—	103.4	$33,874	97.8
31	Illinois	$35,410	$1,612	100.0	$33,812	97.7
32	Iowa	$30,590	$1,122	87.8	$33,577	97.0
33	Oregon	$37,020	$2,435	103.4	$33,460	96.6
34	Ohio	$30,630	$60	92.8	$32,951	95.2
35	Maryland	$35,860	$1,371	105.0	$32,860	94.9
36	Tennessee	$30,160	—	91.9	$32,829	94.8
37	Kentucky	$29,970	$1,068	90.2	$32,057	92.6
38	Kansas	$29,750	$883	90.1	$32,050	92.6
39	Virginia	$33,270	$1,113	101.1	$31,806	91.9
40	South Carolina	$30,020	$344	93.7	$31,655	91.4
41	Arkansas	$28,300	$895	86.9	$31,523	91.0
42	New Mexico	$29,300	$364	92.2	$31,380	90.6
43	Pennsylvania	$31,330	$962	97.6	$31,124	89.9
44	Mississippi	$27,300	$396	87.0	$30,941	89.4
45	North Carolina	$29,900	$729	94.3	$30,926	89.3
46	Louisiana	$27,420	$448	88.2	$30,579	88.3
47	Oklahoma	$27,630	$775	87.8	$30,572	88.3
48	Texas	$29,630	—	97.1	$30,528	88.2
49	Alabama	$28,050	$1,138	88.8	$30,299	87.5
50	Georgia	$29,130	$923	96.3	$29,293	84.6
51	West Virginia	$26,830	$661	89.5	$29,240	84.5

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Hawaii, a $59,110 salary is worth about $47,847 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $6,502 (≈ top marginal 11.00% (upper bound)) · take-home $52,608 · BEA cost of living 110.0 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $66,726, a $18,879 gain over Hawaii.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$66,726	88.6
2	Arkansas	$65,340	86.9
3	Louisiana	$65,002	88.2
4	Mississippi	$64,988	87.0
5	Iowa	$64,793	87.8
6	North Dakota	$64,785	89.0
7	Tennessee	$64,341	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$64,094	87.8
9	Wyoming	$63,771	92.7
10	Alabama	$63,221	88.8
11	Kentucky	$62,939	90.2
12	West Virginia	$62,863	89.5

Browse US jobs with salaries

Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Hawaii is the best state for a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks: a BLS median of $59,110 is worth $51,066 after the 2025 state income tax ($2,962) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 110.0), an index of 147.5 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. Hawaii has the highest headline BLS median for a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks at $59,110, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 147.5). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks salary go least far?: West Virginia ranks last of 51 states for a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks: a $26,830 BLS median is worth only $29,240 after tax and cost of living (index 84.5). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

Compare other occupations

Get the Gera US Real Pay Index when BLS refreshes OEWS

BLS OEWS updates roughly once a year. Save your email and we’ll send the refreshed real-pay rankings when new wage data lands.

Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.