Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop Salary
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop earn a median $31,200 a year nationally. Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
U.S. median
$31,200
$15.00 per hour
Range
$22,340 – $43,990
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
432,690
across the U.S.
▲2.7%
Pay trend: The median for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in the U.S. rose from $30,380 (May 2024) to $31,200 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).
What hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop do
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)
- Openings per year
- 107,100
- Self-employed
- 2%
Employment of hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop is projected to grow 3.4% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 107,100 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$27,249
per year · effective tax rate 12.7%
$2,271Monthly
$1,135Twice a month
$1,048Every 2 weeks
$13.10Hourly
- Federal income tax$1,564
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,934
- Medicare (1.45%)$452
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$27,249
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,340 | $10.74 | $20,007 |
| 25th percentile | $27,570 | $13.25 | $24,314 |
| Median (50th) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $27,249 |
| 75th percentile | $36,250 | $17.43 | $31,307 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,990 | $21.15 | $37,526 |
Best cities for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, OR | $43,410 | $34,091 | $32,338 | 3,390 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $38,430 | $33,059 | $29,747 | 6,010 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $36,340 | $30,489 | $28,822 | 5,320 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $35,080 | $29,699 | $28,745 | 8,090 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $39,810 | $33,068 | $28,602 | 4,090 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $32,950 | $28,655 | $28,594 | 5,640 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $31,200 | $26,720 | $28,100 | 4,100 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $36,360 | $30,380 | $27,901 | 9,270 |
| 9 | Riverside, CA | $34,830 | $29,331 | $27,555 | 4,330 |
| 10 | Kansas City, MO | $29,280 | $25,268 | $27,304 | 4,200 |
| 11 | Baltimore, MD | $34,320 | $28,490 | $27,266 | 3,590 |
| 12 | Los Angeles, CA | $36,920 | $30,899 | $27,208 | 15,340 |
| 13 | San Diego, CA | $36,140 | $30,314 | $27,093 | 4,720 |
| 14 | Pittsburgh, PA | $30,260 | $25,565 | $27,004 | 3,730 |
| 15 | Cincinnati, OH | $29,350 | $25,738 | $26,987 | 3,790 |
| 16 | New York, NY | $36,500 | $30,134 | $26,771 | 18,530 |
| 17 | Boston, MA | $35,140 | $28,878 | $26,673 | 10,580 |
| 18 | Philadelphia, PA | $32,220 | $27,080 | $26,405 | 8,960 |
| 19 | Nashville, TN | $28,800 | $25,321 | $26,283 | 4,110 |
| 20 | Austin, TX | $29,130 | $25,586 | $26,091 | 3,250 |
| 21 | Jacksonville, FL | $29,440 | $25,835 | $25,969 | 2,690 |
| 22 | Tampa, FL | $29,880 | $26,189 | $25,958 | 5,810 |
| 23 | Charlotte, NC | $29,550 | $25,253 | $25,941 | 4,470 |
| 24 | San Antonio, TX | $27,640 | $24,372 | $25,731 | 3,740 |
| 25 | Orlando, FL | $29,640 | $25,996 | $25,632 | 5,620 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Portland, OR — $43,410
- San Francisco, CA — $39,810
- Seattle, WA — $38,430
- Los Angeles, CA — $36,920
- New York, NY — $36,500
- Washington, DC — $36,360
- Denver, CO — $36,340
- San Diego, CA — $36,140
- Boston, MA — $35,140
- Phoenix, AZ — $35,080
- Riverside, CA — $34,830
- Baltimore, MD — $34,320
- Las Vegas, NV — $32,950
- Miami, FL — $32,280
- Philadelphia, PA — $32,220
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $47,070 | +9.3% | $37,928 | $29,710 – $62,560 | 2,650 |
| Oregon | $40,720 | +18.8% | $32,165 | $30,850 – $62,030 | 5,740 |
| District of Columbia | $37,570 | +1.7% | $31,279 | $36,740 – $47,090 | 2,450 |
| Washington | $37,270 | +2.1% | $32,126 | $34,650 – $59,430 | 9,530 |
| Maine | $36,800 | +4.8% | $30,406 | $30,840 – $51,040 | 1,460 |
| California | $36,640 | +2.0% | $30,689 | $34,360 – $46,060 | 41,100 |
| New York | $36,490 | −1.6% | $30,126 | $32,910 – $53,060 | 18,640 |
| Colorado | $36,340 | +1.7% | $30,489 | $30,800 – $55,660 | 9,490 |
| Massachusetts | $34,960 | +0.5% | $28,742 | $31,200 – $41,740 | 13,540 |
| Maryland | $34,860 | +8.2% | $28,898 | $31,200 – $38,180 | 7,390 |
| Arizona | $34,740 | +1.8% | $29,434 | $30,710 – $46,850 | 10,710 |
| Connecticut | $34,210 | +1.7% | $29,053 | $34,010 – $44,060 | 3,670 |
| New Jersey | $34,050 | −0.6% | $29,031 | $32,220 – $43,160 | 9,420 |
| New Hampshire | $33,920 | +10.6% | $29,435 | $26,330 – $38,460 | 2,130 |
| Rhode Island | $31,400 | +1.3% | $26,849 | $31,200 – $46,690 | — |
| Delaware | $31,200 | +10.9% | $26,194 | $31,200 – $35,360 | 1,680 |
| Illinois | $31,200 | +0.4% | $25,850 | $31,200 – $44,720 | 16,500 |
| Nevada | $31,170 | +6.1% | $27,225 | $25,150 – $48,810 | 6,570 |
| Vermont | $31,080 | −4.9% | $26,545 | $29,780 – $47,670 | 1,060 |
| Virginia | $30,490 | +1.3% | $25,740 | $27,230 – $44,630 | 10,890 |
| South Dakota | $30,310 | +3.4% | $26,534 | $25,380 – $36,800 | 630 |
| Alaska | $30,210 | −13.2% | $26,454 | $24,770 – $44,270 | 740 |
| Minnesota | $30,200 | +1.5% | $25,649 | $24,000 – $38,960 | 7,150 |
| Florida | $29,810 | +2.4% | $26,132 | $27,750 – $43,680 | 37,100 |
| Utah | $29,610 | +2.8% | $25,605 | $22,040 – $45,100 | 4,950 |
| Pennsylvania | $29,170 | +2.7% | $24,723 | $20,800 – $41,380 | 18,020 |
| Missouri | $29,130 | +3.9% | $25,154 | $28,600 – $37,440 | 8,510 |
| Michigan | $28,950 | +2.8% | $24,462 | $25,960 – $37,270 | 12,620 |
| Montana | $28,910 | −0.9% | $24,807 | $22,700 – $35,980 | 1,260 |
| North Dakota | $28,660 | +1.5% | $25,208 | $22,020 – $37,670 | 800 |
| New Mexico | $28,480 | +2.0% | $24,761 | $26,830 – $35,180 | 2,670 |
| Nebraska | $28,450 | +4.1% | $24,570 | $28,080 – $38,750 | 2,830 |
| North Carolina | $28,320 | +6.6% | $24,310 | $19,100 – $36,460 | 15,160 |
| Iowa | $28,210 | −0.8% | $24,421 | $21,880 – $40,550 | 2,630 |
| Kansas | $28,110 | +4.2% | $23,961 | $18,040 – $39,040 | 4,540 |
| Wisconsin | $28,060 | −2.6% | $24,248 | $17,830 – $37,440 | 6,430 |
| Georgia | $27,850 | −1.1% | $23,722 | $19,890 – $34,900 | 17,300 |
| Ohio | $27,550 | −0.1% | $24,297 | $22,870 – $37,320 | 15,480 |
| Tennessee | $27,490 | −3.0% | $24,248 | $20,180 – $35,770 | 11,280 |
| Idaho | $27,280 | +2.4% | $23,738 | $18,400 – $35,770 | 2,360 |
| Kentucky | $27,100 | +4.2% | $23,096 | $19,150 – $35,300 | 5,120 |
| Texas | $27,080 | +0.3% | $23,910 | $17,270 – $36,870 | 35,550 |
| South Carolina | $27,000 | +1.8% | $23,382 | $17,740 – $37,230 | 7,990 |
| Indiana | $26,920 | −5.0% | $23,014 | $19,290 – $37,060 | 9,730 |
| Arkansas | $26,760 | +2.2% | $22,816 | $23,460 – $33,560 | 3,110 |
| Alabama | $26,130 | +4.7% | $22,087 | $21,230 – $34,400 | 5,400 |
| Oklahoma | $24,740 | +10.3% | $21,416 | $18,810 – $39,310 | 5,060 |
| West Virginia | $24,420 | +5.3% | $21,130 | $19,640 – $30,460 | 1,580 |
| Wyoming | $22,660 | −2.7% | $20,271 | $17,280 – $33,800 | 660 |
| Louisiana | $22,060 | +6.8% | $19,501 | $16,280 – $31,610 | 6,440 |
| Mississippi | $21,990 | +1.9% | $19,571 | $17,240 – $28,890 | 2,660 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $33,980 | No formal educational credential | +5.3% |
| Dishwasher | $34,810 | No formal educational credential | -1.0% |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,840 | No formal educational credential | +5.5% |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $31,200 | No formal educational credential | +5.8% |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,890 | No formal educational credential | +0.6% |
| Bartender | $34,340 | No formal educational credential | +5.0% |
| Waiter and Waitress | $35,230 | No formal educational credential | +2.0% |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,320 | No formal educational credential | -3.0% |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,360 | No formal educational credential | +4.5% |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,880 | No formal educational credential | -5.2% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop make?
The national median salary for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop is $31,200 a year ($15.00 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $22,340 and the top 10% earn over $43,990. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop the most?
Hawaii has the highest median pay at $47,070. After taxes and local prices, Portland, OR offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop are there in the U.S.?
About 432,690 people work as hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop nationwide.
All 37 cities
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Houston, TX
- Indianapolis, IN
- Jacksonville, FL
- Kansas City, MO
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- Miami, FL
- Minneapolis, MN
- Nashville, TN
- New York, NY
- Orlando, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Portland, OR
- Raleigh, NC
- Riverside, CA
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- St. Louis, MO
- Tampa, FL
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Washington, DC