10
Fast-Growing Careers
Occupation
% Growth New Jobs Created
(2002–2012) (2002–2012)
umpire, referee, and other sports official 33.3% 100
Marketing Texas
Host/Hostess, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop 30.9% 5,850
Aaron Demerson is the executive director of the Economic
waiter/waitress 30.2% 45,100
Development and Tourism Division, Office of the Governor. His
food preparation worker 30.2% 16,350 job is to market the state to travelers from the U.S. and abroad.
restaurant cook 28.9% 16,100
“Hospitality & Tourism is a huge industry, with a significant
amusement and recreation attendant 26.7% 3,850
impact, and the opportunities within it are nearly endless in
Texas,” says Demerson. “We are looking at a $50 billion industry
first-line supervisor of food prep and serving workers 25.9% 15,000
here in the state with millions of jobs.”
coach and scout 24.1% 1,700
When Demerson begins to list some of the job opportunities
recreation worker 23.9% 3,450 within the Hospitality & Tourism cluster, he runs out of
customer service representative 23.4% 38,650
breath: “Chefs, catering businesses, anything having to do with
This is a projection of 10 fast-growing careers in Hospitality & Tourism in Texas from the year 2002 to 2012 and
restaurants, sporting events, theme parks, cruise lines, any sort of
the number of new jobs created in each occupation. Note that whereas the percentage of growth in jobs may be
arts and entertainment festivals, museums, visitor and convention
high, the actual number of jobs created may be low. For example, there will be only 100 new jobs for umpires,
referees, and other sports officials created in Texas during the decade that the data covers. bureaus, campgrounds, accommodations of all sorts from the
Source: Texas Workforce Commission.
front desk to behind the scenes—if it has to do with travel or
dining or entertainment or hotels, it fits in this cluster. And you
A growing field
can easily have a very successful career in Texas.
“There are incredible opportunities in the
You’re only limited by your imagination.”
lodging and hospitality industry,” says Scott THe TeXas
“Hospitality & Tourism is a great field for students
Joslove, president and CEO of the Texas
Hotel and Lodging Association. “In the
resTauranT
who have a lot of energy and who are looking for
a career that’s fast-paced, that’s creative, and that
lodging business, people taking entry level
assocIaTIon
lets them work with people,” adds Marilyn Wragg,
jobs are more likely to become managers
director of the Curriculum Center at Texas Tech
than in just about any other career. We
Has 22 local cHapTers
University. “But what really makes the careers in
tend to promote from within, and the and 6000 members.
this cluster unique is that they are nearly always a
opportunities are bountiful for students who
lot of fun.”
apply themselves and stay in the industry.”
Industry wages are variable, beginning at minimum wage for
unskilled nonsalaried employees, and growing with skills, experience,
and education. Salaries average around $30,000, though the potential
10
Top-Paying Careers
to earn more money is certainly there. “Earning potential can be
huge,” Joslove says. “Managers in hotels, for instance, can earn Occupation
Average Entry-Level Experienced
Wage Wage Wage
anywhere from $40,000 to above $200,000, depending on the location
athlete and sports competitor $27.68 $8.00 $37.52
and the size of the property.”
“There is a huge demand for employees
food service manager $21.42 $13.00 $25.63
in every aspect of hotel administration,”
meeting and convention planner $18.84 $11.61 $22.45
he continues, “from starting at the lodging manager $17.94 $9.95 $21.93
front desk, to working in food service
coach and scout $16.39 $7.54 $20.81
at an area hotel or restaurant, to
chef and Head cook $16.21 $8.58 $20.03
managing just about any function
of the business—accounting, sales,
umpire, referee, and other sports official $15.28 $6.92 $19.46
personnel, security, operations,
reservation & Transportation Ticket
agent & Travel clerk
$15.21 $10.16 $17.74
computer technology, marketing.
No matter what your interests are,
first-line supervisor of personal service workers $13.45 $8.52 $15.92
there’s a place for you in hotels
customer service representative $12.66 $8.32 $14.83
and lodging.” This is a chart of hourly wages for 10 of the top-paying careers in the Hospital & Tourism cluster in Texas.
Note how entry-level wages are often much lower than pay for the average worker and experienced workers
in each profession. Source: Texas Workforce Commission.
Page 7
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24