Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$31,200
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$15.00
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$43,990
entry level starts ~$22,340
Pay Grade
D
low pay · 433,000 employed

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

Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop earn a median annual salary of $31,200 in the United States, which works out to roughly $15.00 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $22,340 at the entry level and $43,990 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $27,570 and $36,250 a year.

That is $30,190 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary range by percentile

Half of all Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop earn between $27,570 and $36,250 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$22,340$10.74
25th percentile (early career)$27,570$13.25
50th percentile (median)$31,200$15.00
75th percentile (experienced)$36,250$17.43
90th percentile (top earners)$43,990$21.15

Highest-paying states for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Hawaii leads the country for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop pay at $47,070 a year, followed by Oregon ($40,720) and District of Columbia ($37,570). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $21,990 — a gap of $25,080 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Hawaii$47,070$22.63+51%
2Oregon$40,720$19.58+31%
3District of Columbia$37,570$18.06+20%
4Washington$37,270$17.92+19%
5Maine$36,800$17.69+18%

Workforce and education

About 433,000 people work as Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $32,690 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: no college degree is required — most training happens on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop make in the United States?
The median Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary in the United States is $31,200 per year, or about $15.00 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $22,340, while the top 10% of earners make $43,990 or more.
How does Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of D (low pay), the Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop median of $31,200 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop the most?
Hawaii is the highest-paying state for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop, with a median salary of $47,070 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop need?
For most positions, no college degree is required — most training happens on the job, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop work in the United States?
About 433,000 people were employed as Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

Related salaries

Other food service roles with similar pay.

Food Server, Nonrestaurant

$35,360
median pay · 294,000 employed

Cook, Fast Food

$30,890
median pay · 641,000 employed

Cook, Short Order

$35,880
median pay · 139,000 employed

Cook, Restaurant

$37,390
median pay · 1,410,000 employed

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

$37,450
median pay · 441,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.