Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop Salary in Kentucky (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in Kentucky, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Kentucky Median
$27,100
per year
Hourly Rate
$13.03
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-13% vs US median
US median $31,200
State Rank
#41 of 51
5,120 employed here

How much do Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop make in Kentucky?

Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop working in Kentucky earn a median salary of $27,100 per year, or about $13.03 per hour. That is 13% below the national median of $31,200 for this occupation.

Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $19,150 while the top 10% make $35,300 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $22,520 and $29,550 a year.

Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary range in Kentucky

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$19,150$9.21
25th percentile (early career)$22,520$10.83
50th percentile (median)$27,100$13.03
75th percentile (experienced)$29,550$14.21
90th percentile (top earners)$35,300$16.97

How Kentucky compares

Kentucky ranks 41st out of 51 states and territories for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1Hawaii$47,070
2Oregon$40,720
3District of Columbia$37,570
4Washington$37,270
5Maine$36,800

Working as Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in Kentucky

Nationally, about 433,000 people work as Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in the United States. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.

Considering a move? Compare Kentucky pay ($27,100) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop make in Kentucky?
The median Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary in Kentucky is $27,100 per year, or about $13.03 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $19,150 at the entry level to $35,300 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop about 13% less than the national median of $31,200. Kentucky ranks 41st out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $27,100 a year. About 5,120 Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop are employed in Kentucky. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.

← See the national Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary report

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.