Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop Salary in Nashville, TN
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median $28,800 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,321 take-home, or $2,110 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop salary in Nashville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,276
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,786
- Medicare (1.45%)$418
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$25,321
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% 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 Nashville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,330 | $10.25 | $19,175 | $1,598 |
| 25th percentile | $24,210 | $11.64 | $21,547 | $1,796 |
| Median (50th) | $28,800 | $13.85 | $25,321 | $2,110 |
| 75th percentile | $34,290 | $16.49 | $29,732 | $2,478 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,510 | $18.51 | $33,123 | $2,760 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,800 buys in Nashville, TN
Prices in Nashville, TN are 3.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop's $25,321 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,283 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Nashville, TN has 1.3× the national concentration of hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop, adjusted for cost of living
Nashville, TN ranks #19 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 |
| 19 | Nashville, TN | $28,800 | $25,321 | $26,283 |
*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 Nashville, TN?
The median hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop salary in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $28,800 a year, or about $13.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $24,210 and $34,290.
What is a hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop’s take-home pay in Nashville, TN?
On the median $28,800 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $25,321 a year ($2,110 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Nashville, TN a good place to work as a hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 3.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,283 would in a typical U.S. city. Nashville, TN ranks #19 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 Nashville, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Nashville, TN is $1,530 a month ($1,685 for two bedrooms) — 73% 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 Nashville, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,630
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,170
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,910
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,640
- Dishwasher — $34,380
- Cooks, Fast Food — $34,210
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,520
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,390
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,150
- Bartender — $28,190