Casinos are unique environments for hospitality professionals because, while you find similar jobs to other hotels, restaurants, clubs, spas, or resorts, casinos also run games and offer many more activities than most standard hospitality venues. So casinos pose more opportunities for professionals in departments like gaming, auditing, quality control, security, and accounting than in other hospitality venues. Here we’ve broken down five careers that are unique to casinos and that also pay well and offer promising career paths.
Director of Operations
The Director of Operations has broad responsibilities within the casino, and they include supervising staff, overseeing special events, forming business strategies, and monitoring for irregularities that could indicate fraud. Because this is a senior position, a bachelor’s degree is usually preferred, and applicants need to have significant experience in a casino. A typical requirement is 10 years of experience working on a casino floor, including at least five years in a managerial role. Payscale reports that the median salary is $86,576, and total pay can be as high as $158,538.
Shift manager
A shift manager supervises employees on the casino floor, interacts with guests, and makes sure that casino policies are followed and that employees provide a high level of service. This position typically requires three or more years of experience as a manager and knowledge of operating casino games. Higher education isn’t always required, but a degree in hospitality or business can be an advantage. The median salary for a casino shift manager is $49,446 per year, but shift managers can earn as much as $72,362 including bonuses, according to PayScale.
Internal auditor
Internal auditors monitor data from casino operations and check for fraud or failures of compliance; they also prepare reports on their findings. They may be required to work nights or weekends because auditing work continues at all times that a casino is open for business. At the minimum, an applicant for this position needs a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related quantitative subject. Some openings may also require applicants to be Certified Public Accountants or Certified Internal Auditors, which are qualifications obtained by passing an exam and providing proof of employment experience and character references. PayScale reports a median salary of $55,237, and pay can go as high as $79,566.
Security manager
A security manager supervises security staff and works to ensure the safety of casino guests and employees and to protect casino property. This position typically requires a bachelor’s degree in business or criminal justice, or an associate’s degree at the minimum. Applicants also need security experience, which could be obtained either by working for a private security firm or by working in law enforcement or in the military. A security manager may need to obtain certifications or permits depending on the state and city, and CPR certification is sometimes required as well. PayScale reports that the position has a median pay of $63,080, and can be as high as $111,671.
Executive chef
The executive chef develops the menus for a casino’s restaurant and supervises all activities in the kitchen, including training staff and ordering ingredients. The executive chef directs the food preparation for large parties, banquets, and other special events. This position requires several years of experience as a cook and then a sous chef, and a culinary degree could be an advantage. PayScale reports that the median salary is $57,632, and pay can reach $86,572.