Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop Salary in Washington, DC
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $36,360 a year — 17% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,380 take-home, or $2,532 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,183
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,254
- Medicare (1.45%)$527
- District of Columbia income tax$1,016
- Take-home pay$30,380
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
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 Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,490 | $14.66 | $26,015 | $2,168 |
| 25th percentile | $34,390 | $16.53 | $28,915 | $2,410 |
| Median (50th) | $36,360 | $17.48 | $30,380 | $2,532 |
| 75th percentile | $38,360 | $18.44 | $31,867 | $2,656 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,240 | $21.75 | $36,982 | $3,082 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,360 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop's $30,380 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,901 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 Washington, DC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #8 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 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop make in Washington, DC?
The median hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $36,360 a year, or about $17.48 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,390 and $38,360.
What is a hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $36,360 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $30,380 a year ($2,532 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,016 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop?
Pay here is 17% above the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,901 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #8 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 Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 79% 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 Washington, DC
- Chef and Head Cook — $74,900
- Bartender — $48,030
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $47,580
- Waiter and Waitress — $46,040
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $44,880
- Cooks, Restaurant — $42,920
- Cooks, Short Order — $39,650
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,630
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $37,540
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $37,260
- Dishwasher — $37,010
- Cooks, Fast Food — $35,800