Hotel and resort jobs in Puerto Rico

Pay and the minimum wage

Puerto Rico's minimum wage is US$ 10.50 an hour, in force since 1 July 2024 under Law 47-2021. That is above the federal minimum of US$ 7.25, and the higher of the two applies (Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources, Opinion 2024-01). Overtime is time and a half after 8 hours in a day or 40 in a week, and on your weekly rest day (US Department of Labor).

Tips and service charge

If you usually get more than US$ 30 a month in tips, the hotel can pay you as little as US$ 2.13 an hour and count your tips towards the rest. Pay and tips together must reach US$ 10.50 an hour, or the employer makes up the difference (same DTRH opinion).

Your employer cannot keep your tips or pass them to managers. A compulsory service charge on the bill is not a tip under federal law and can count towards your wages (US Department of Labor), so ask how it is shared. More in our service charge guide. Every job on this site shows its pay.

Who can work there

Puerto Rico is part of the United States for immigration purposes (USCIS Policy Manual). US citizens, including people born in Puerto Rico, need no work permit; like any new hire in the US, you fill in Form I-9 to show who you are and that you can work (USCIS).

Everyone else needs US work authorisation, such as a green card, an employment authorisation document or a work visa (USCIS). For seasonal jobs employers can use the H-2B visa, and the employer and its recruiters may not charge you recruitment or application fees (US Department of Labor). A tourist visit does not let you work. See our work permit guide.

Languages

Front desk, bar and sales jobs usually need English as well as Spanish. In housekeeping, kitchens and maintenance, Spanish is often enough. Jobs on this site that need Spanish but not English are shown in Spanish.

When hotels hire

Winter, from mid-December to April, is the busiest time, with many visitors from the mainland United States. Big hotels hire all year, with more openings in the autumn. The hurricane season runs from June to November.

Getting to work

For a hotel outside San Juan, in Dorado, Río Grande or Rincón for example, check how you will get there before you accept, and ask about staff transport or parking. Ferries to Vieques and Culebra leave from Ceiba (Metro Puerto Rico, March 2026), so for a job on either island, ask about housing.

How to apply

Apply on the job page in about a minute, in English or Spanish, without creating an account. Real employers never charge for a job, a uniform, training or a visa; if anyone asks you for money, report it. Leer en español.