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Retail, Hospitality, & Tourism

The Retail, Hospitality & Tourism sector is responsible for providing everything there is to offer in lodging, meetings and conventions, restaurants, shopping, travel and recreational activities. Career paths can be found in many professions in the hospitality industry, where the focus is people, service and guest satisfaction.

San Diego County Career Pathways & Salary Info - Hourly Rate (Salary)*

HS Diploma + Postsecondary Training (e.g., Certificate)

  • Choreographers $13 ($27K)
  • Recreation Workers $14 ($29K)
  • Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors $14 ($29K)
  • Food Service Managers $18 ($37K)

Associate Degree or Higher

  • Museum Technicians and Conservators $16 ($33K)
  • Coaches and Scouts $17 ($35K)
  • Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners $18 ($37K)
  • Fashion Designers $18 ($37K)

*Entry-level hourly rates have been rounded up and salaries are provided as examples of what workers would make if they worked full-time (2080 hours a year)

Sample of Local Employers

  • Macy’s
  • Sprouts
  • Cheesecake Factory
  • Chipotle Mexican Grill
  • Sycuan
  • The Vons Incorporated
  • Office Depot
  • Viejas Casino
  • SeaWorld San Diego
  • Speedway LLC

Imperial County Career Pathways & Salary Info - Hourly Rate (Salary)*

HS Diploma + Postsecondary Training (e.g., Certificate)

  • Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors $12 ($25K)
  • First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service and Entertainment and Recreation Workers $15 ($31K)
  • First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers $15 ($31K)
  • Food Service Managers $15 ($31K)

Associate Degree or Higher

  • Designers, All Other $12 ($25K)
  • Coaches and Scouts $13 ($27K)
  • Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners $17 ($35K)
  • General and Operations Managers $30 ($62K)

*Entry-level hourly rates have been rounded up and salaries are provided as examples of what workers would make if they worked full-time (2080 hours a year)

Sample of Local Employers

  • Lowe’s
  • Pilot Travel Center
  • Macy's
  • Burgers & Beer
  • AutoZone Auto Parts
  • Target
  • Best Buy
  • Hibbett Sports
  • CVS Health
  • Love’s Travel Stops
  • Chili’s Grill and Bar

Fast Facts

  • 312,652 people employed
  • -5% (-15,573) 5-year projected job growth
  • 20,062 businesses
  • 9% of the sector's employment in California
  • $43,438 average earnings per job
  • 8% of the sector's businesses in California
Source: Labor market data derived from EMSI 2021.03; QCEW, Non-QCEW, Self-Employed; 2020-2025 projections.

Cuyamaca College

APPLY
  • Golf Course & Sports Turf Management
  • Floral Design
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Grossmont College

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  • Culinary Arts
  • Culinary Arts-Baking and Pastry
  • Culinary Arts-Banquet Cook
  • Culinary Arts-Culinary Entrepreneurship
  • Culinary Arts-Line Cook
  • Culinary Arts-Pastry Cook
  • Culinary Arts-Prep Cook
  • Retail Management
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Imperial Valley College

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  • Retail Management
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MiraCosta College

APPLY
  • Catering Operations
  • Dance Instructor
  • Dining Room Operations
  • Food Services Operations
  • Front Office Operations (Hospitality)
  • Hospitality Management
  • Marketing
  • Meeting and Event Management
  • Museum Studies
  • Personal Fitness Trainer
  • Restaurant Management
  • Retail Assistant
  • Retail Management
  • Rooms Division Management
  • Social Media for Business
  • Viticulture and Enology
  • Yoga Instructor (200 Hours)
  • Yoga Instructor (300 Hours)
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Palomar College

APPLY
  • Dance: Emphasis in World Dance
  • Dance: Emphasis in General Dance
  • Dance: Emphasis in Euro-Western Dance
  • Drone Applications and Technologies
  • Drone Operator 1
  • Fashion Design
  • Fashion Merchandising
  • Interior Design
  • Musical Theatre Preparation
  • Visual Merchandising
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San Diego City College

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  • Cosmetology
  • Cosmetology - Nail Technician
  • Cosmetology - Esthetician
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San Diego College of Continuing Education

APPLY
  • Baking and Pastry I *
  • Baking and Pastry II *
  • Clothing Construction Program *
  • Culinary Arts & Sciences Program *
  • Culinary Arts Advanced Program *
  • Culinary Nutrition *
  • Fashion Retail Basics *
  • Introduction to Hospitality Industry *
  • Professional Bakeshop Skills Program *
  • Sewn Product Business Program *
  • * Designates noncredit classes
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San Diego Mesa College

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  • Baking and Pastry
  • Dance: Choreography
  • Dance: Commercial
  • Culinary Arts/Culinary Management
  • Fashion Merchandising
  • Fermentation
  • Hospitality Management
  • Retail Management
MORE INFORMATION

San Diego Miramar College

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  • Personal Training
  • Yoga Teacher
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Southwestern College

APPLY
  • Culinary Arts Cooking Essentials - Basic
  • Culinary Arts
  • Culinary Arts: Professional Baking and Pastry
  • Culinary Arts: Professional Cooking
  • Entrepreneurship: Event/Convention Plan Emphasis
  • Event and Convention Management - Advanced CT
  • Event and Convention Management - AS
  • Fitness Specialist Certification - Basic
  • Fitness Specialist Certification - Advanced
  • Hospitality: Culinary Arts - Food Services Management - Basic
  • Hospitality: Event and Convention Management
  • Hospitality: Event and Convention Management - Advanced
  • Hotel Management
  • Hospitality: Hotel Operations Management - Basic
  • Hospitality: Travel and Tourism Management
  • Hospitality: Travel and Tourism Mgmt - Advanced
  • Restaurant and Foodservice Management
  • Restaurant and Foodservice Management - Advanced
  • Yoga Teacher Training - 200 Hours
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student success story

Student Story: Jusimi Otero

Growing up in the foster care system, Jusimi was exposed to a variety of cultures and food. She always loved the culinary arts and how creative it allowed her to be. The values of the culinary field aligned with hers too, which has made the hands-on training in the classroom more meaningful. Learn more about Jusimi’s story here.

Career videos