Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop pay in the United States
Goes furthest in Hawaii
·Food Preparation and Serving·433k jobs
Figures from US Bureau of Labor StatisticsOccupational Employment and Wage Statistics
$15.00/hr median
432,690 employed
+3% to 2035
39% AI exposure
No formal educational credential
54 states reported
and more...
What this work is
Welcome patrons, seat them at tables or in lounge, and help ensure quality of facilities and service.
Where the money actually goes furthest
Hawaii pays the most both before and after cost of living — $47,070, worth $42,810 once local prices are counted.
Pay by state
54 states and territories publish a median for this occupation. Switch the ranking to see how much the order changes.
Adjusted for what things cost in that state.
| State | Hourly | Annual | Worth locally | After state tax | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $22.63/hr | $47,070 | $42,810 | $44,914 | 2,650 |
| Oregon | $19.58/hr | $40,720 | $39,396 | $37,698 | 5,740 |
| Maine | $17.69/hr | $36,800 | $37,918 | $35,512 | 1,460 |
| Colorado | $17.47/hr | $36,340 | $35,264 | $35,416 | 9,490 |
| Washington | $17.92/hr | $37,270 | $34,828 | $37,270 | 9,530 |
| Arizona | $16.70/hr | $34,740 | $34,505 | $34,236 | 10,710 |
| South Dakota | $14.57/hr | $30,310 | $34,213 | $30,310 | 630 |
| District of Columbia | $18.06/hr | $37,570 | $34,185 | $36,391 | 2,450 |
| New York | $17.54/hr | $36,490 | $33,812 | $35,088 | 18,640 |
| Maryland | $16.76/hr | $34,860 | $33,212 | $33,384 | 7,390 |
| California | $17.62/hr | $36,640 | $33,092 | $36,013 | 41,100 |
| Massachusetts | $16.81/hr | $34,960 | $33,055 | $33,212 | 13,540 |
| Connecticut | $16.45/hr | $34,210 | $33,018 | $32,920 | 3,670 |
| New Hampshire | $16.31/hr | $33,920 | $32,562 | $33,920 | 2,130 |
| North Dakota | $13.78/hr | $28,660 | $32,216 | $28,660 | 800 |
| Iowa | $13.56/hr | $28,210 | $32,144 | $27,692 | 2,630 |
| Missouri | $14.00/hr | $29,130 | $32,074 | $28,617 | 8,510 |
| Vermont | $14.94/hr | $31,080 | $31,727 | $30,273 | 1,060 |
| Nebraska | $13.68/hr | $28,450 | $31,576 | $27,785 | 2,830 |
| New Jersey | $16.37/hr | $34,050 | $31,293 | $33,524 | 9,420 |
| Delaware | $15.00/hr | $31,200 | $31,259 | $30,035 | 1,680 |
| Illinois | $15.00/hr | $31,200 | $31,212 | $29,792 | 16,500 |
| Kansas | $13.51/hr | $28,110 | $31,209 | $26,830 | 4,540 |
| Nevada | $14.99/hr | $31,170 | $31,176 | $31,170 | 6,570 |
| New Mexico | $13.69/hr | $28,480 | $30,886 | $28,118 | 2,670 |
| Arkansas | $12.87/hr | $26,760 | $30,779 | $25,893 | 3,110 |
| Rhode Island | $15.10/hr | $31,400 | $30,700 | $30,618 | Not published |
| Minnesota | $14.52/hr | $30,200 | $30,622 | $29,364 | 7,150 |
| Montana | $13.90/hr | $28,910 | $30,544 | $28,237 | 1,260 |
| Virginia | $14.66/hr | $30,490 | $30,158 | $29,483 | 10,890 |
| Michigan | $13.92/hr | $28,950 | $30,087 | $27,957 | 12,620 |
| Kentucky | $13.03/hr | $27,100 | $30,057 | $26,142 | 5,120 |
| North Carolina | $13.62/hr | $28,320 | $30,022 | $27,658 | 15,160 |
| Utah | $14.24/hr | $29,610 | $29,951 | $28,262 | 4,950 |
| Tennessee | $13.22/hr | $27,490 | $29,922 | $27,490 | 11,280 |
| Pennsylvania | $14.02/hr | $29,170 | $29,896 | $28,274 | 18,020 |
| Wisconsin | $13.49/hr | $28,060 | $29,819 | $27,539 | 6,430 |
| Ohio | $13.25/hr | $27,550 | $29,697 | $27,508 | 15,480 |
| Alaska | $14.52/hr | $30,210 | $29,513 | $30,210 | 740 |
| Alabama | $12.56/hr | $26,130 | $29,419 | $25,013 | 5,400 |
| Georgia | $13.39/hr | $27,850 | $28,923 | $27,027 | 17,300 |
| Indiana | $12.94/hr | $26,920 | $28,843 | $26,142 | 9,730 |
| Florida | $14.33/hr | $29,810 | $28,827 | $29,810 | 37,100 |
| South Carolina | $12.98/hr | $27,000 | $28,800 | $26,734 | 7,990 |
| Idaho | $13.12/hr | $27,280 | $28,568 | $26,607 | 2,360 |
| Oklahoma | $11.89/hr | $24,740 | $28,164 | $24,054 | 5,060 |
| Texas | $13.02/hr | $27,080 | $27,900 | $27,080 | 35,550 |
| West Virginia | $11.74/hr | $24,420 | $27,284 | $23,771 | 1,580 |
| Mississippi | $10.57/hr | $21,990 | $25,290 | $21,123 | 2,660 |
| Louisiana | $10.61/hr | $22,060 | $25,008 | $21,773 | 6,440 |
| Wyoming | $10.89/hr | $22,660 | $24,447 | $22,660 | 660 |
| Virgin Islands | $16.12/hr | $33,540 | Not published | Not published | 90 |
| Puerto Rico | $10.81/hr | $22,480 | Not published | Not published | 1,270 |
| Guam | $9.83/hr | $20,450 | Not published | Not published | 250 |
National median for comparison: $31,200. “Worth locally” divides pay by the area’s price level, so a figure above the headline means money goes further there than the US average.
$31,200/year
$15.00/hr an hour, national median
Across the states
$17,750$57,310
25th to 75th percentile, lowest and highest state
Drop your résumé — it never leaves your browser