Hotel Jobs in Norway

Jobs in Norwegian hotels remain among the easiest for foreigners to land, but while pay has increased in recent years, most positions are seasonal, shift-based, and not especially well-paid compared to other sectors.

Working in a Norwegian hotel can be a practical first job for newcomers to Norway, especially those without advanced language skills or professional qualifications.

As a travel consultant and writer I spend a large amount of my time travelling around Norway. I meet many foreign residents that work in Norwegian hotels.

Roles such as housekeeping, cleaning, kitchen assistance, and other behind-the-scenes work are widely available, particularly during the summer tourist season and the winter ski season.

These entry-level jobs often serve as a stepping stone to a longer-term career or a more stable contract, although they can be physically demanding and come with a strict time schedule.

Entry-Level Hotel Jobs: Who Can Apply?

For many immigrants, hotel jobs are one of the few employment opportunities in Norway that do not require fluent Norwegian. It is not uncommon to find housekeeping staff who speak only basic English and little to no Norwegian.

These roles focus on practical tasks and tend to involve minimal guest interaction, which lowers the language barrier significantly.

However, customer-facing roles such as receptionists or restaurant servers generally require fluency in both Norwegian and English. Additional language skills—such as German, Spanish, French, or even Arabic—are seen as a real advantage, especially in larger hotels or those that cater to international tourists.

Norwegian students and young people are often favoured for these positions due to their native language skills and cultural familiarity.

Wages and Working Conditions in Hotel Jobs

In recent years, minimum wages in Norway’s hospitality sector have increased thanks to updated collective agreements and industry regulations. While the sector is still seen as low-paid relative to Norway’s high cost of living, the actual hourly rates are considerably higher than in many other countries.

As of 2025, the minimum hourly wage for housekeeping and cleaning staff employed by private companies is NOK 227.54 for workers over the age of 18. Those under 18 receive a lower rate of NOK 176.55.

In most cases, this does not include additional compensation for evening, night, or weekend work. These shifts attract fixed premiums, which can significantly increase hourly pay.

For example, night shifts may add NOK 29 or more per hour, while overtime is generally paid at a rate 40 to 100 percent higher than the standard wage, depending on the time of day and total hours worked.

Many larger hotels are covered by a national collective agreement negotiated between the employers' organisation Virke and the trade union Fellesforbundet.

Under this agreement, which applies to many hotel and restaurant staff, the starting hourly rate for unskilled workers without a trade certificate is NOK 204.79. With experience, this can rise to NOK 254.42 or more.

The agreement also sets clear terms for working hours, rest breaks, uniforms, pension contributions, and overtime. The standard working week is 37.5 hours, although this may vary depending on shift schedules. Some evening and night shifts are scheduled on a reduced-hour basis, with a proportional wage increase.

Reception staff, who are not covered by any standardised minimum wage, typically earn more than housekeeping staff. Median salary figures suggest a typical annual income of between NOK 440,000 and 500,000, depending on experience and location.

These positions often require more advanced skills, including language fluency, computer proficiency, and customer service experience.

The Nature of Hotel Jobs

Hotel jobs in Norway are often physically demanding and fast-paced. Housekeeping staff begin work early in the morning and are expected to clean rooms to a flawless standard while keeping to a tight schedule.

The workload is carefully calculated based on set timeframes per room or task, and performance is monitored to ensure efficiency. While this provides structure, it also contributes to stress and fatigue, especially during peak seasons.

Most hotel jobs are offered on a part-time or seasonal basis. The summer tourist season, the winter ski season, and major conference periods create demand for additional staff, which leads many hotels to hire temporary workers or use staffing agencies.

Permanent, full-time contracts are more common in larger urban hotels or within major chains.

Language barriers can limit integration into the workplace. While jobs may be accessible without Norwegian, a lack of fluency can hinder professional development and even social belonging.

Studies have shown that when immigrant workers do not understand jokes or informal communication between colleagues, they often feel excluded from the workplace culture. This is especially relevant in close-knit teams such as housekeeping, where camaraderie can make a difficult job feel more manageable.

Opportunities for Advancement

Although most hotel roles start as entry-level positions, there are clear pathways for career development within the industry.

Norway offers a vocational training programme known as reiselivsfaget, which can lead to a recognised trade certificate (fagbrev). This qualification opens up further opportunities in reception work, event coordination, and hotel management.

Many larger hotels and chains provide in-house training and offer support for those wishing to pursue further qualifications. Employees covered by collective agreements also have the right to a formal introduction to their job and workplace, which can include training in routines, health and safety, and rights at work.

How to Find Hotel Jobs in Norway

The first step in your job search should be to identify hotels in your local area and check their websites for current vacancies.

Larger hotel chains such as Nordic Choice, Thon Hotels, Scandic, and Radisson Blu advertise job openings directly online. Some hotels recruit through staffing agencies or specialist hospitality companies, especially for short-term or seasonal work.

It is important to note that hotel jobs in Norway are highly competitive, particularly in popular destinations. You are unlikely to secure an interview unless you are already living in Norway and have the right to work.

Citizens of EEA countries benefit from the freedom of movement rules, which give them priority in the job market. Citizens of non-EEA countries must already hold a valid work permit to be considered for employment.

Are Hotel Jobs Right For You?

Hotel work can be a realistic entry point to the Norwegian labour market, especially for newcomers with limited language skills.

While the hours are demanding and the pay modest by Norwegian standards, union protections, training opportunities, and the possibility of advancement make this sector more secure and structured than many similar jobs elsewhere in the world.

Please note that I cannot help you find a job or respond to individual queries. I am a writer and have no connection to hotel recruitment in Norway. However, what I can do is wish you the best of luck with your job search!