Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop Salary in Raleigh, NC
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median $29,150 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,948 take-home, or $2,079 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop salary in Raleigh, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,318
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,807
- Medicare (1.45%)$423
- North Carolina income tax$654
- Take-home pay$24,948
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop pay by experience in Raleigh, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,600 | $9.90 | $18,261 | $1,522 |
| 25th percentile | $23,210 | $11.16 | $20,306 | $1,692 |
| Median (50th) | $29,150 | $14.01 | $24,948 | $2,079 |
| 75th percentile | $34,010 | $16.35 | $28,659 | $2,388 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,550 | $17.57 | $30,598 | $2,550 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,150 buys in Raleigh, NC
Prices in Raleigh, NC are 1.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.03× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop's $24,948 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,416 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop jobs are about as common in Raleigh, NC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.19).
Best-paying cities for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop, adjusted for cost of living
Raleigh, NC ranks #28 of 37 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, OR | $43,410 | $34,091 | $32,338 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $38,430 | $33,059 | $29,747 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $36,340 | $30,489 | $28,822 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $35,080 | $29,699 | $28,745 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $39,810 | $33,068 | $28,602 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $32,950 | $28,655 | $28,594 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $31,200 | $26,720 | $28,100 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $36,360 | $30,380 | $27,901 |
| 28 | Raleigh, NC | $29,150 | $24,948 | $25,416 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
About the job: hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
Welcome patrons, seat them at tables or in lounge, and help ensure quality of facilities and service.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.4% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Charlotte, NC — $29,550
Frequently asked questions
How much does a hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop make in Raleigh, NC?
The median hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop salary in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $29,150 a year, or about $14.01 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $23,210 and $34,010.
What is a hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop’s take-home pay in Raleigh, NC?
On the median $29,150 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $24,948 a year ($2,079 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $654 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Raleigh, NC a good place to work as a hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 1.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,416 would in a typical U.S. city. Raleigh, NC ranks #28 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop afford rent in Raleigh, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Raleigh, NC is $1,596 a month ($1,750 for two bedrooms) — 77% of a median hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Raleigh, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,020
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,280
- Bartender — $36,120
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,860
- Food Preparation Worker — $29,470
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,080
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,220