A Host/Hostess's salary isn't a fixed number.
It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Host/Hostess Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Host/Hostess's salary.
As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases.
Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:
Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $28,087
Early Career (1-2 years): $28,475
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $29,141
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $29,232
Expert (over 8 years): $29,383
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Host/Hostess
$28,087
Intermediate Level Host/Hostess
$28,475
Senior Level Host/Hostess
$29,141
Specialist Level Host/Hostess
$29,232
Expert Level Host/Hostess
$29,383
$28,0870 yr
$28,475< 2 yrs
$29,1412-4 yrs
$29,2325-8 yrs
$29,383> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Host/Hostess Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work.
States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors
often pay more to attract Host/Hostesses.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $31,695.
California: $31,575.
Massachusetts: $31,154.
District of Columbia$31,695
California$31,575
Massachusetts$31,154
Washington$31,039
New Jersey$31,028
Alaska$30,988
Connecticut$30,593
New York$30,433
Hawaii$29,920
Rhode Island$29,680
Maryland$29,516
Minnesota$29,293
Colorado$29,207
Illinois$29,179
Oregon$29,070
Delaware$28,990
New Hampshire$28,939
Virginia$28,827
Pennsylvania$28,497
Nevada$28,331
North Dakota$28,277
Michigan$28,191
Wisconsin$28,160
Vermont$28,097
Texas$27,922
Maine$27,911
Arizona$27,893
Ohio$27,873
Georgia$27,610
Indiana$27,478
Wyoming$27,453
Utah$27,412
Iowa$27,395
Kansas$27,258
Louisiana$27,218
North Carolina$27,203
Missouri$27,198
Florida$27,086
Montana$27,026
Nebraska$26,969
Kentucky$26,937
South Carolina$26,823
Tennessee$26,751
Idaho$26,723
New Mexico$26,514
Oklahoma$26,468
Alabama$26,299
South Dakota$26,015
Arkansas$25,861
West Virginia$25,778
Mississippi$25,529
Top Paying Cities for Host/Hostesses
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $36,106
San Francisco: $35,711
Oakland: $34,958
San Jose, CA$36,106
San Francisco, CA$35,711
Oakland, CA$34,958
New York, NY$32,960
Paramus, NJ$32,559
Queens Village, NY$32,558
Passaic, NJ$32,531
Bergenfield, NJ$32,528
Stamford, CT$32,465
Huntington, NY$32,453
Newark, NJ$32,242
Bridgeport, CT$32,181
Vallejo, CA$32,124
New Brunswick, NJ$32,113
Petaluma, CA$32,096
Middlesex, NJ$32,041
Somerset, NJ$32,021
Santa Cruz, CA$31,984
Boston, MA$31,809
Monterey, CA$31,709
Seattle, WA$31,643
Santa Rosa, CA$31,638
Los Angeles, CA$31,629
Juneau, AK$31,555
Washington, DC$31,523
Orange, CA$31,421
Santa Ana, CA$31,346
Long Beach, CA$31,317
Anaheim, CA$31,311
Anchorage, AK$31,297
Santa Maria, CA$31,211
Everett, WA$31,205
Danbury, CT$31,105
Bremerton, WA$31,065
Tacoma, WA$30,962
New Suffolk, NY$30,962
Sacramento, CA$30,954
Santa Barbara, CA$30,922
Trenton, NJ$30,891
San Diego, CA$30,891
Brockton, MA$30,859
Fairbanks, AK$30,789
Lompoc, CA$30,716
Lowell, MA$30,693
Ventura, CA$30,687
Nashua, NH$30,682
Stockton, CA$30,679
Modesto, CA$30,470
Poughkeepsie, NY$30,407
Olympia, WA$30,352
Kennewick, WA$30,352
New Haven, CT$30,341
Lawrence, MA$30,238
Hartford, CT$30,209
Riverside, CA$30,204
New Bedford, MA$30,175
Richland, WA$30,175
Bakersfield, CA$30,135
San Bernardino, CA$30,123
New Britain, CT$30,120
Atlantic City, NJ$30,120
New London, CT$30,109
Norwich, CT$30,100
Portsmouth, NH$30,095
Boulder, CO$30,034
Portland, OR$29,995
Worcester, MA$29,992
Minneapolis, MN$29,903
Philadelphia, PA$29,863
Honolulu, HI$29,768
Saint Paul, MN$29,755
Vineland, NJ$29,748
Providence, RI$29,665
Chicago, IL$29,582
Bellingham, WA$29,548
Springfield, MA$29,525
Baltimore, MD$29,516
Chico, CA$29,445
Pittsfield, MA$29,368
Manchester, NH$29,313
Spokane, WA$29,187
Denver, CO$29,184
Albany, NY$29,050
Troy, NY$29,038
Nassau, NY$29,008
Schenectady, NY$28,978
Wilmington, DE$28,955
Burlington, VT$28,915
Salem, OR$28,904
Portland, ME$28,815
Yakima, WA$28,787
Rochester, MN$28,698
Reno, NV$28,683
Fresno, CA$28,683
Milwaukee, WI$28,658
Detroit, MI$28,629
Ann Arbor, MI$28,624
Allentown, PA$28,620
Colorado Springs, CO$28,572
Syracuse, NY$28,557
Carson City, NV$28,557
Houston, TX$28,517
Eugene, OR$28,503
Gary, IN$28,469
Springfield, OR$28,446
Bismarck, ND$28,440
Galveston, TX$28,420
Medford, OR$28,377
Fort Collins, CO$28,366
Concord, NH$28,351
Austin, TX$28,343
Mesa, AZ$28,283
Reading, PA$28,280
Phoenix, AZ$28,277
Dallas, TX$28,268
Saint Cloud, MN$28,241
Madison, WI$28,203
Utica, NY$28,125
Rochester, NY$28,079
Des Moines, IA$28,077
Raleigh, NC$28,074
Atlanta, GA$28,031
Battle Creek, MI$28,022
Salt Lake City, UT$28,014
Lancaster, PA$27,971
Harrisburg, PA$27,931
Kansas City, MO$27,902
Champaign, IL$27,896
Kansas City, KS$27,896
Fort Worth, TX$27,893
Columbus, OH$27,889
Boca Raton, FL$27,882
Pittsburgh, PA$27,870
Richmond, VA$27,859
Indianapolis, IN$27,853
Cleveland, OH$27,850
Las Vegas, NV$27,816
Cincinnati, OH$27,816
Petersburg, VA$27,773
Huntsville, AL$27,730
Lansing, MI$27,711
Lebanon, PA$27,707
Pueblo, CO$27,704
Appleton, WI$27,696
Buffalo, NY$27,684
Dayton, OH$27,676
Racine, WI$27,670
Charlotte, NC$27,667
Saint Louis, MO$27,659
York, PA$27,641
Elkhart, IN$27,641
Gastonia, NC$27,636
Billings, MT$27,629
Beaumont, TX$27,621
Lorain, OH$27,616
Benton Harbor, MI$27,610
Toledo, OH$27,604
Binghamton, NY$27,590
Rock Hill, SC$27,587
Rockford, IL$27,573
Springfield, IL$27,561
Elyria, OH$27,558
Fargo, ND$27,558
Flagstaff, AZ$27,538
Fort Lauderdale, FL$27,521
Duluth, MN$27,504
Miami, FL$27,504
Cheyenne, WY$27,484
Grand Forks, ND$27,484
Bangor, ME$27,421
Cedar Rapids, IA$27,390
Durham, NC$27,378
Louisville, KY$27,375
Grand Rapids, MI$27,370
Hialeah, FL$27,367
Casper, WY$27,327
Scranton, PA$27,292
New Orleans, LA$27,284
Virginia Beach, VA$27,281
Akron, OH$27,266
Peoria, IL$27,229
Sarasota, FL$27,224
Nashville, TN$27,203
Omaha, NE$27,203
Green Bay, WI$27,203
Baton Rouge, LA$27,189
Charleston, SC$27,183
Jamestown, NY$27,169
Davenport, IA$27,169
Tucson, AZ$27,155
Saint Petersburg, FL$27,138
Tampa, FL$27,132
Evansville, IN$27,115
Port Arthur, TX$27,115
Bradenton, FL$27,103
Santa Fe, NM$27,052
Orlando, FL$27,000
Clearwater, FL$26,992
Canton, OH$26,932
La Crosse, WI$26,932
Albuquerque, NM$26,914
Newport News, VA$26,911
High Point, NC$26,903
Ogden, UT$26,891
Corpus Christi, TX$26,869
Norfolk, VA$26,851
Laramie, WY$26,851
Rock Island, IL$26,834
Saginaw, MI$26,828
Jacksonville, FL$26,826
Salisbury, NC$26,820
Boise, ID$26,814
Moline, IL$26,800
Fort Myers, FL$26,791
Memphis, TN$26,786
Tulsa, OK$26,771
Waterloo, IA$26,754
Spartanburg, SC$26,725
Lincoln, NE$26,711
Fort Wayne, IN$26,705
Provo, UT$26,703
Cedar Falls, IA$26,668
San Antonio, TX$26,657
Greensboro, NC$26,645
South Bend, IN$26,642
Savannah, GA$26,611
Muskegon, MI$26,599
Birmingham, AL$26,597
Winston Salem, NC$26,583
Lake Charles, LA$26,514
Anderson, IN$26,508
Lexington, KY$26,499
Augusta, GA$26,491
Greenville, SC$26,491
Lima, OH$26,468
Wichita, KS$26,465
Tuscaloosa, AL$26,465
Columbia, SC$26,439
Springfield, OH$26,433
Asheville, NC$26,388
Bloomington, IN$26,368
Knoxville, TN$26,265
Shreveport, LA$26,262
Wilmington, NC$26,224
Roanoke, VA$26,224
Topeka, KS$26,173
Frankfort, KY$26,170
Oklahoma City, OK$26,150
Chillicothe, OH$26,139
Longview, TX$26,136
Melbourne, FL$26,133
Sioux Falls, SD$26,087
Mobile, AL$26,084
Terre Haute, IN$26,073
Altoona, PA$26,056
Amarillo, TX$26,036
Killeen, TX$26,027
Fayetteville, AR$26,004
Chattanooga, TN$25,995
Sioux City, IA$25,970
Idaho Falls, ID$25,964
Lynchburg, VA$25,941
Gainesville, FL$25,904
Portsmouth, OH$25,890
Little Rock, AR$25,884
Lafayette, LA$25,872
Youngstown, OH$25,872
Daytona Beach, FL$25,855
Clarksville, TN$25,852
Pensacola, FL$25,849
Temple, TX$25,847
Hopkinsville, KY$25,764
Erie, PA$25,758
Florence, SC$25,746
Charleston, WV$25,701
Great Falls, MT$25,686
Macon, GA$25,646
Tallahassee, FL$25,643
Fayetteville, NC$25,638
Waco, TX$25,632
Helena, MT$25,612
Pine Bluff, AR$25,601
Vincennes, IN$25,566
Lubbock, TX$25,555
Alamogordo, NM$25,537
Twin Falls, ID$25,512
Rapid City, SD$25,503
Jackson, MS$25,452
Huntington, WV$25,450
Greenville, MS$25,449
Parkersburg, WV$25,419
Montgomery, AL$25,414
Wichita Falls, TX$25,386
Springfield, MO$25,386
Biloxi, MS$25,371
Monroe, LA$25,343
Johnstown, PA$25,323
Sumter, SC$25,311
Columbus, GA$25,308
Pascagoula, MS$25,254
Abilene, TX$25,254
Kingsport, TN$25,180
Albany, GA$25,180
Gulfport, MS$25,171
Alexandria, LA$25,077
Fort Smith, AR$25,005
El Paso, TX$24,928
Las Cruces, NM$24,799
Harlingen, TX$24,726
Pocatello, ID$24,722
Florence, AL$24,684
Brownsville, TX$24,679
Mcallen, TX$24,619
Dothan, AL$24,578
Columbus, MS$24,408
Altus, OK$24,275
Lawton, OK$24,221
Pierre, SD$24,118
What Skills Can Increase a Host/Hostess's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Customer Service (Mentioned in 18.88% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
Product Quality (Mentioned in 3.25% Job Postings): Product quality refers to how well a product satisfies customer needs, serves its purpose and meets industry standards. When evaluating product quality, businesses consider several key factors, including whether a product solves a problem, works efficiently or suits customers' purposes.
Hosting (Mentioned in 1.3% Job Postings): An Internet hosting service is a service that runs Internet servers, allowing organizations and individuals to serve content to the Internet. There are various levels of service and various kinds of services offered. A common kind of hosting is web hosting. Most hosting providers offer a combination of services; e-mail hosting, for example. DNS hosting service is usually bundled with domain name registration. Generic kinds of Internet hosting provide a server where the clients can run anything they want (including web servers and other servers) and have Internet connections with good upstream bandwidth. Full-featured hosting services include: Complex Managed Hosting, Dedicated hosting service, Virtual private server,Colocation facilities, Cloud hosting etc.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Customer Service
18.88%
Product Quality
3.25%
Hosting
1.3%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Host/Hostess's salary.
Interviewing: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Goal Oriented: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
Sense Of Urgency: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Interviewing
$33,206
16%
Goal Oriented
$32,920
15%
Sense Of Urgency
$32,061
12%
Sales Support
$31,775
11%
Integrity
$31,489
10%
Problem Solving
$31,203
9%
Get Latest Data
Host/Hostess Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Host/Hostess roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential
by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Hospitality & Leisure,
offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely,
Host/Hostess positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Host/Hostess as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Host/Hostess
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Hospitality & Leisure
$31,489
$15.0
10%
How Education impacts a Host/Hostess's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Host/Hostesses enter the field with a No Diploma degree,
higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data,
the median salary for a Host/Hostess with a No Diploma is between
$23,305
and $24,701).
Host/Hostess Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Host/Hostess
No Diploma8.5%
High School54.9%
Associates13.4%
Bachelors18.3%
Masters4.9%
Doctorate0.0%
view as table
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
8.5%
High School
54.9%
Associates
13.4%
Bachelors
18.3%
Masters
4.9%
Doctorate
0.0%
view as graph
Host/Hostess Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Host/Hostess's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$26,503
Average$28,626/year
$30,685
$2,209
Average$2,386/month
$2,557
$510
Average$551/week
$590
$13
Average$14/hour
$15
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$30,685
$2,557
$590
$15
Average
$28,626
$2,386
$551
$14
25th Percentile
$26,503
$2,209
$510
$13
Salary Trends for Host/Hostess
Salaries for a Host/Hostess can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $27,277 in 2023
to around $27,103 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Host/Hostess salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Host/Hostess Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$27,277
2024
$27,498
2025
$27,103
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$27,277
2024
$27,498
2025
$27,103
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Host/Hostess
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.
Compensation Planning
Common company salaries for Host/Hostess
Here are companies hiring for Host/Hostess and their salaries, click below for more details.
N
$97,099/per year
New York Police Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$95,962/per year
State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$94,615/per year
US Department of Transportation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$93,141/per year
US General Services Administration
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$92,342/per year
Los Angeles County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
D
$92,011/per year
Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,967/per year
US Department of Commerce
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,755/per year
US Department of Energy
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
F
$91,673/per year
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$90,276/per year
Naval Sea Systems Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,975/per year
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$88,721/per year
San Diego County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,664/per year
The TTB
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$87,569/per year
Lutheran Services
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
M
$85,066/per year
Maryland Inc
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$83,780/per year
State University of New York
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$82,969/per year
New York State
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
P
$82,703/per year
Puerto Rico Department of Education
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$80,526/per year
US Central Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
H
$80,286/per year
Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$79,270/per year
Air Force Reserve
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$78,505/per year
American Automobile Association (AAA)
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$76,678/per year
State of Florida - Department of Health
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$75,183/per year
New York State Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$75,106/per year
State University System of Florida
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
Find Your Next Host/Hostess Job
Ready to take the next step in your career?
Browse thousands of current Host/Hostess job openings on our job board.
Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Find your next job here. Will train the right candidate. Average salaries from $20 - $37/Hr, full time and part time shifts available now. Hiring for: Derm...
more
Executive Assistant. Check Off Your List (COYL) is hiring a remote part-time Executive Assistant to support our exponential growth. COYL provides highly tr...
more
E-Scooter Delivery Driver. Columbus, Ohio, United States. At Veo, our mission is to end car dependency by making clean transportation accessible to all. A ...
more
Restoration Technician. Turn Chaos into Calm Join Our Rapidly Growing Team. Founded in 1988, Power Dry is a leader in emergency water and mold removal serv...
more
Find your next job here. Will train the right candidate. Average salaries from $12 - $22/Hr, full time and part time shifts available now. Hiring for: Food...
more
Find your next job here. Will train the right candidate. Average salaries from $12 - $22/Hr, full time and part time shifts available now. Hiring for: Groc...
more
8 Days Ago
For Employees
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
For Employers
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
FAQ about Host/Hostess
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Host/Hostess?
The Hospitality & Leisure industry offers the highest average compensation for Host/Hostess roles,
with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI Onboarding
Smart Recruiting
