Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop Salary in Seattle, WA
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $38,430 a year — 23% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $33,059 take-home, or $2,755 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,432
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,383
- Medicare (1.45%)$557
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$33,059
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 Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,050 | $16.85 | $30,343 | $2,529 |
| 25th percentile | $35,890 | $17.25 | $31,018 | $2,585 |
| Median (50th) | $38,430 | $18.48 | $33,059 | $2,755 |
| 75th percentile | $45,910 | $22.07 | $39,069 | $3,256 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,740 | $29.20 | $50,985 | $4,249 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,430 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% 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 $33,059 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,747 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 Seattle, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #2 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 Seattle, WA?
The median hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $38,430 a year, or about $18.48 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,890 and $45,910.
What is a hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $38,430 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $33,059 a year ($2,755 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop?
Pay here is 23% above the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,747 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #2 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 Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 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 Seattle, WA
- Chef and Head Cook — $80,330
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $61,610
- Bartender — $58,180
- Waiter and Waitress — $57,280
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $51,530
- Cooks, Restaurant — $47,730
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $45,120
- Cooks, Fast Food — $44,030
- Food Preparation Worker — $43,830
- Dishwasher — $42,750
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $40,640
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $39,150