The pay scale for hosts and hostesses varies based on the specific restaurant for which the individual works, its size, prestige, popularity, and geographic location. Other factors affecting earnings include the individual’s responsibilities and experience, as well as his or her personality.
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that the median income for hosts and hostesses in restaurants, lounges, and coffee shops was $29,220 in 2023. It also reports that the lowest 10 percent earned $21,530, while the highest 10 percent made $38,830 or more. Fifty percent of hosts and hostesses earned between $24,690 and $34,670.
Earnings are highest for individuals who are employed by high-end restaurants in large cities. At some restaurants, hosts and hostesses receive tips.
- Adventure Travel Specialists
- Amusement Park Workers
- App Services Workers
- Baggage Porters and Bellhops
- Bakery Workers
- Baristas
- Bartenders
- Bed and Breakfast Owners
- Bicycle Mechanics
- Cage Cashiers
- Casino Credit Managers
- Casino Managers
- Caterers
- Cooking Instructors
- Cooks and Chefs
- Cruise Ship Workers
- Dealers
- Dietetic Technicians
- Dietitians
- Directors of Casino Security
- Event Planners
- Fast Food Workers
- Flight Attendants
- Food Service Workers
- Food Writers and Editors
- Gaming Occupations
- Green Hotel/Resort Ecomanagers
- Hotel and Motel Managers
- Hotel Concierges
- Hotel Desk Clerks
- Hotel Executive Housekeepers
- Hotel Restaurant Managers
- Housekeepers and Maids
- Inbound Tour Guides
- Lifeguards and Swimming Instructors
- Museum Attendants
- Museum Directors and Curators
- Music Venue Owners and Managers
- National Park Service Employees
- Nutritionists
- Online Gambling Specialists
- Park Rangers
- Parking Attendants
- Personal Chefs
- Personal Shoppers
- Pilots
- Pit Bosses
- Recreation Workers
- Reservation and Ticket Agents
- Resort Workers
- Restaurant and Food Service Managers
- Ship's Captains
- Ski Resort Workers
- Spa Attendants
- Spa Managers
- Space Tourism Managers
- Sports Facility Managers
- Sports Instructors and Coaches
- Stadium Ushers and Vendors
- Strength and Conditioning Coaches
- Swimming Pool Designers
- Tour Guides
- Travel Agents
- Wedding and Party Consultants
- Yoga and Pilates Instructors
- Zoo and Aquarium Curators and Directors