Contributor:Connie Rose
With global gambling expected to reach a staggering $565.4 billion by 2022, it’s no secret that casinos are and always have been cash-generating machines. But, as with every multi-billion dollar industry, not all positions are equal and there are some professionals within this sector that bring in higher annual salaries than others. These are the top 10 highest paying jobs in the casino industry as of 2020.
These positions are highly sought-after and compared to a casino dealer salary (which runs anywhere from $15 – $28 an hour), these job titles are all very profitable and keep the money flowing in.
Our first casino title goes without saying. If you’re in the top echelon of casino professions and happen to run a casino, chances are you’re bringing in a significant salary year on year.
1. Casino CEO
Job Description:
The buck starts and stops at the top. Job descriptions differ from person to person. At the end of the day, these Casino CEO’s are at the top of their game in the sector. Some are more hands-on than others but generally speaking, a casino CEO’s responsibilities may include holding daily/weekly or monthly meetings with their operation executives, establishing strategic partnerships with third-party providers, overseeing the onboarding of major software developments, protocols, and mergers, all the while signing off on a heck of a lot of expenses in the process, and keeping an eye on their overall bottom line
Casino CEO Salary: This really depends on whether the CEO is the sole owner or part of a larger corporate entity. But it’s safe to say anywhere in the region of $200,000 – $1,000,000+ a year.
2. Director of Operations
Job Description:
This job is a big one and usually comes with a prerequisite that a person needs to have 10+ years of hands-on casino experience before applying. The degree of organization, responsibility, and attention to detail that comes with the role is unparalleled to any other position. Some of their responsibilities may include directing and supervising all casino personnel. Managing the internal operations on all aspects of live casinos, including orchestrating events, such as tournaments and conferences. Creating budgets and ensuring financial targets are met and exceeded.
Director of Operations Salary: This depends heavily on the size and requirements of a given casino but $86,600 – $150,000 a year is a fair estimate.
3. Casino Property General Manager
Job Description:
Another sought after job in the casino industry is that of the Casino Property Manager. This job title usually comes with 11+ years of experience in the casino field and includes running, overseeing, and maintaining all aspects of the casino property, staffing, and overall customer satisfaction. In certain casinos with additional amenities, such as entertainment centers, hotels, and restaurants, this job might expand in scope quite drastically. At the end of the day, the casino property manager is the person responsible for ultimate customer satisfaction and requires keen leadership ability, an eye for detail, and impeccable organizational skills.
Casino Property General Manager Salary: This will depend heavily on the size of the casino, but as a guideline, this position can bring in $80,000 – $101,000 per year.
4. Security Manager
Job Description:
The security manager is solely responsible for the security of the casino. They are the ones who develop, implement, and supervise the establishment’s different safety protocols, policies & procedures. They’ll hire and oversee all security personnel and will monitor different surveillance systems on the casino floor. The security team will also be in charge of dealing with any criminal activity that may occur in the casino, including addressing and taking the necessary actions in the event of a player being caught cheating or counting cards.
Security Manager Salary: $63,000 – $110,000 a year, depending on the casino.
5. Internal Casino Auditor
Job Description:
This high stakes role has the ability to make or break a casino, if not executed flawlessly. The casino’s team of internal auditors are paid well by most casino standards but the perks of the job come with a lot of responsibility. Internal auditors are constantly monitoring data and statistics from the casino operations team, going over reports, and painstakingly checking for fraud or other issues in overall casino compliance. Internal auditors will also prepare reports and suggest ways to innovate new measures for running the organization more efficiently.
Most casinos will require the applicant for this type of role to be a certified accountant, or at the very least, require a masters in accounting.
Internal Casino Auditor Salary: $55,237 – $80,000 a year, depending on the casino.
6. Casino Manager
Job Description:
A top-level supervisory position. Casino managers are fully responsible for the day-to-day running and management of the casino floor and associated operations. They manage staff, rosters, and schedules whilst upholding gaming policies, and report to the director of operations. They’ve been known to personally handle problems on the casino floor, take care of VIP’s, and address customer complaints.
Casino Manager Salary: $50,000 – $100,000 a year.
7. Pit Boss
Job Description:
Pit bosses, also known as pit supervisors, manage the main floor of the casino. Larger casinos hire multiple pit bosses to manage predefined sections on the casino floor and anything that goes on within this section is the sole responsibility of the pit boss who will handle all operations. They ensure that all the table games are running smoothly and according to the procedures laid out by the establishment. They will supervise the dealers, and handle their shift roster whilst looking out for any in-game errors, oversights, or anomalies. The pit boss will also open and close the tables, overseeing the collection of wagers and the distribution of player payouts. They oversee the paperwork involved with each table and, when needed, mediate disputes between dealers and players, ensuring fairness and professionalism at all times.
Pit Boss Salary: $50,000 – $80,000 a year, depending on the casino.
8. Shift Manager/Floor Manager
Job Description:
This job is another casino profession that comes with a lot of responsibilities and, when applying, has a prerequisite of 3-5+ years of hands-on casino floor experience. Some of a shift manager’s responsibilities may include supervising casino floor personnel (in collaboration with the pit boss), ensuring each dealer delivers exceptional gameplay and service, whilst at the same time interacting and welcoming guests into the casino. At the end of the shift, they will be responsible for the hand-over of paperwork, reporting, as well as delivering the takings to the back of the house.
Shift Manager/Floor Manager Salary: $50 000 – 70 000 a year on average.
9. Slot Operations Manager
Job Description:
The Slot Operations Manager is the person responsible for all casino personnel who work and interact with slot machines and the clients who are playing them. They will usually be responsible for running their own section and supervising a sub-group of casino employees, usually referred to as slot attendants. Their job primarily consists of ensuring the slots run like clock-work, the payouts are delivered according to the win rate of the player and that the machines never break down, and when they do, puts the necessary procedures in place to get an in-house mechanic onto the floor to fix them immediately. They are also client-facing, maintaining customer satisfaction, and attending to any questions, queries, or complaints that a player might have.
Slot Operations Manager Salary: This position’s salary can fluctuate quite dramatically depending on the casino and the size of the team the person might be running. Anywhere from $38,000 – $78,000 a year is a fair estimate.
10. Pit Clerk
Job Description:
Although not on the same level as the Pit Boss, the role of the Pit Clerk can be profitable and rewarding depending on the casino. These men and women are usually being groomed to take over as Pit Bosses in time and their job descriptions have a similarity with that of their superiors. The role’s responsibilities include making sure that the tables run and operate smoothly. They do this by restocking chips, replacing card decks, emptying out the cash box, and vetting questions or queries that a player or dealer might have. In tournaments, they would collect a player’s information and oversee the cash transactions for a specific dealer or section of the gaming floor (or pit). Pit Clerks can also be called on to oversee and assist with a player’s deposits and withdrawals. A lot of the Pit Clerks’ roles and responsibilities happen in the back end, but their involvement is integral to the daily runnings of the shift and the gameplay.
Pit Clerk Salary: $30,000 – $65,000 a year, depending on the casino.
So, whether you be following on for fun or you’ve been reading this article in the hopes of pursuing or continuing a career in the casino industry, these are the jobs that take the cake in terms of perks and yearly salary. Good luck with your quest and all the best for 2021.
