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): $28,093
Early Career (1-2 years): $28,481
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $29,146
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $29,237
Expert (over 8 years): $29,388
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Host/Hostess
$28,093
Intermediate Level Host/Hostess
$28,481
Senior Level Host/Hostess
$29,146
Specialist Level Host/Hostess
$29,237
Expert Level Host/Hostess
$29,388
$28,0930 yr
$28,481< 2 yrs
$29,1462-4 yrs
$29,2375-8 yrs
$29,388> 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: $31,701.
California: $31,581.
Massachusetts: $31,160.
District of Columbia$31,701
California$31,581
Massachusetts$31,160
Washington$31,046
New Jersey$31,034
Alaska$30,994
Connecticut$30,599
New York$30,439
Hawaii$29,926
Rhode Island$29,686
Maryland$29,522
Minnesota$29,299
Colorado$29,213
Illinois$29,185
Oregon$29,076
Delaware$28,996
New Hampshire$28,945
Virginia$28,832
Pennsylvania$28,503
Nevada$28,337
North Dakota$28,283
Michigan$28,197
Wisconsin$28,165
Vermont$28,102
Texas$27,928
Maine$27,916
Arizona$27,899
Ohio$27,879
Georgia$27,616
Indiana$27,484
Wyoming$27,458
Utah$27,418
Iowa$27,401
Kansas$27,263
Louisiana$27,223
North Carolina$27,209
Missouri$27,203
Florida$27,092
Montana$27,031
Nebraska$26,974
Kentucky$26,943
South Carolina$26,828
Tennessee$26,757
Idaho$26,728
New Mexico$26,519
Oklahoma$26,473
Alabama$26,304
South Dakota$26,021
Arkansas$25,866
West Virginia$25,783
Mississippi$25,534
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: $36,114
San Francisco: $35,718
Oakland: $34,965
San Jose, CA$36,114
San Francisco, CA$35,718
Oakland, CA$34,965
New York, NY$32,967
Paramus, NJ$32,566
Queens Village, NY$32,564
Passaic, NJ$32,537
Bergenfield, NJ$32,535
Stamford, CT$32,472
Huntington, NY$32,460
Newark, NJ$32,248
Bridgeport, CT$32,188
Vallejo, CA$32,131
New Brunswick, NJ$32,119
Petaluma, CA$32,102
Middlesex, NJ$32,048
Somerset, NJ$32,028
Santa Cruz, CA$31,991
Boston, MA$31,816
Monterey, CA$31,715
Seattle, WA$31,650
Santa Rosa, CA$31,644
Los Angeles, CA$31,635
Juneau, AK$31,561
Washington, DC$31,530
Orange, CA$31,428
Santa Ana, CA$31,352
Long Beach, CA$31,323
Anaheim, CA$31,318
Anchorage, AK$31,303
Santa Maria, CA$31,217
Everett, WA$31,212
Danbury, CT$31,111
Bremerton, WA$31,071
Tacoma, WA$30,968
New Suffolk, NY$30,968
Sacramento, CA$30,960
Santa Barbara, CA$30,928
Trenton, NJ$30,897
San Diego, CA$30,897
Brockton, MA$30,865
Fairbanks, AK$30,795
Lompoc, CA$30,722
Lowell, MA$30,699
Ventura, CA$30,694
Nashua, NH$30,688
Stockton, CA$30,685
Modesto, CA$30,476
Poughkeepsie, NY$30,413
Olympia, WA$30,359
Kennewick, WA$30,359
New Haven, CT$30,347
Lawrence, MA$30,244
Hartford, CT$30,215
Riverside, CA$30,210
New Bedford, MA$30,181
Richland, WA$30,181
Bakersfield, CA$30,141
San Bernardino, CA$30,129
New Britain, CT$30,127
Atlantic City, NJ$30,127
New London, CT$30,115
Norwich, CT$30,107
Portsmouth, NH$30,101
Boulder, CO$30,040
Portland, OR$30,001
Worcester, MA$29,998
Minneapolis, MN$29,909
Philadelphia, PA$29,869
Honolulu, HI$29,774
Saint Paul, MN$29,761
Vineland, NJ$29,754
Providence, RI$29,671
Chicago, IL$29,588
Bellingham, WA$29,554
Springfield, MA$29,531
Baltimore, MD$29,522
Chico, CA$29,451
Pittsfield, MA$29,374
Manchester, NH$29,319
Spokane, WA$29,193
Denver, CO$29,190
Albany, NY$29,056
Troy, NY$29,044
Nassau, NY$29,014
Schenectady, NY$28,984
Wilmington, DE$28,961
Burlington, VT$28,921
Salem, OR$28,910
Portland, ME$28,821
Yakima, WA$28,792
Rochester, MN$28,704
Reno, NV$28,689
Fresno, CA$28,689
Milwaukee, WI$28,663
Detroit, MI$28,635
Ann Arbor, MI$28,630
Allentown, PA$28,626
Colorado Springs, CO$28,578
Syracuse, NY$28,563
Carson City, NV$28,563
Houston, TX$28,523
Eugene, OR$28,509
Gary, IN$28,475
Springfield, OR$28,452
Bismarck, ND$28,446
Galveston, TX$28,426
Medford, OR$28,383
Fort Collins, CO$28,371
Concord, NH$28,357
Austin, TX$28,349
Mesa, AZ$28,288
Reading, PA$28,286
Phoenix, AZ$28,283
Dallas, TX$28,274
Saint Cloud, MN$28,247
Madison, WI$28,208
Utica, NY$28,131
Rochester, NY$28,085
Des Moines, IA$28,082
Raleigh, NC$28,079
Atlanta, GA$28,036
Battle Creek, MI$28,028
Salt Lake City, UT$28,019
Lancaster, PA$27,976
Harrisburg, PA$27,936
Kansas City, MO$27,908
Champaign, IL$27,902
Kansas City, KS$27,902
Fort Worth, TX$27,899
Columbus, OH$27,894
Boca Raton, FL$27,888
Pittsburgh, PA$27,876
Richmond, VA$27,865
Indianapolis, IN$27,859
Cleveland, OH$27,856
Las Vegas, NV$27,822
Cincinnati, OH$27,822
Petersburg, VA$27,779
Huntsville, AL$27,736
Lansing, MI$27,717
Lebanon, PA$27,713
Pueblo, CO$27,710
Appleton, WI$27,701
Buffalo, NY$27,690
Dayton, OH$27,681
Racine, WI$27,676
Charlotte, NC$27,673
Saint Louis, MO$27,664
York, PA$27,647
Elkhart, IN$27,647
Gastonia, NC$27,642
Billings, MT$27,635
Beaumont, TX$27,627
Lorain, OH$27,621
Benton Harbor, MI$27,616
Toledo, OH$27,610
Binghamton, NY$27,596
Rock Hill, SC$27,593
Rockford, IL$27,578
Springfield, IL$27,567
Elyria, OH$27,564
Fargo, ND$27,564
Flagstaff, AZ$27,544
Fort Lauderdale, FL$27,527
Duluth, MN$27,510
Miami, FL$27,510
Cheyenne, WY$27,490
Grand Forks, ND$27,490
Bangor, ME$27,427
Cedar Rapids, IA$27,395
Durham, NC$27,383
Louisville, KY$27,381
Grand Rapids, MI$27,375
Hialeah, FL$27,372
Casper, WY$27,332
Scranton, PA$27,298
New Orleans, LA$27,289
Virginia Beach, VA$27,286
Akron, OH$27,272
Peoria, IL$27,235
Sarasota, FL$27,229
Nashville, TN$27,209
Omaha, NE$27,209
Green Bay, WI$27,209
Baton Rouge, LA$27,195
Charleston, SC$27,189
Jamestown, NY$27,175
Davenport, IA$27,175
Tucson, AZ$27,160
Saint Petersburg, FL$27,143
Tampa, FL$27,137
Evansville, IN$27,120
Port Arthur, TX$27,120
Bradenton, FL$27,109
Santa Fe, NM$27,057
Orlando, FL$27,006
Clearwater, FL$26,997
Canton, OH$26,937
La Crosse, WI$26,937
Albuquerque, NM$26,920
Newport News, VA$26,917
High Point, NC$26,908
Ogden, UT$26,897
Corpus Christi, TX$26,874
Norfolk, VA$26,857
Laramie, WY$26,857
Rock Island, IL$26,840
Saginaw, MI$26,834
Jacksonville, FL$26,831
Salisbury, NC$26,825
Boise, ID$26,820
Moline, IL$26,805
Fort Myers, FL$26,797
Memphis, TN$26,791
Tulsa, OK$26,777
Waterloo, IA$26,759
Spartanburg, SC$26,731
Lincoln, NE$26,717
Fort Wayne, IN$26,711
Provo, UT$26,708
Cedar Falls, IA$26,674
San Antonio, TX$26,662
Greensboro, NC$26,651
South Bend, IN$26,648
Savannah, GA$26,616
Muskegon, MI$26,605
Birmingham, AL$26,602
Winston Salem, NC$26,588
Lake Charles, LA$26,519
Anderson, IN$26,513
Lexington, KY$26,505
Augusta, GA$26,496
Greenville, SC$26,496
Lima, OH$26,473
Wichita, KS$26,470
Tuscaloosa, AL$26,470
Columbia, SC$26,445
Springfield, OH$26,439
Asheville, NC$26,393
Bloomington, IN$26,373
Knoxville, TN$26,270
Shreveport, LA$26,267
Wilmington, NC$26,230
Roanoke, VA$26,230
Topeka, KS$26,178
Frankfort, KY$26,175
Oklahoma City, OK$26,155
Chillicothe, OH$26,144
Longview, TX$26,141
Melbourne, FL$26,138
Sioux Falls, SD$26,092
Mobile, AL$26,089
Terre Haute, IN$26,078
Altoona, PA$26,061
Amarillo, TX$26,041
Killeen, TX$26,032
Fayetteville, AR$26,009
Chattanooga, TN$26,001
Sioux City, IA$25,975
Idaho Falls, ID$25,969
Lynchburg, VA$25,946
Gainesville, FL$25,909
Portsmouth, OH$25,895
Little Rock, AR$25,889
Lafayette, LA$25,878
Youngstown, OH$25,878
Daytona Beach, FL$25,860
Clarksville, TN$25,858
Pensacola, FL$25,855
Temple, TX$25,853
Hopkinsville, KY$25,769
Erie, PA$25,763
Florence, SC$25,752
Charleston, WV$25,706
Great Falls, MT$25,691
Macon, GA$25,651
Tallahassee, FL$25,649
Fayetteville, NC$25,643
Waco, TX$25,637
Helena, MT$25,617
Pine Bluff, AR$25,606
Vincennes, IN$25,571
Lubbock, TX$25,560
Alamogordo, NM$25,543
Twin Falls, ID$25,517
Rapid City, SD$25,508
Jackson, MS$25,457
Huntington, WV$25,455
Greenville, MS$25,454
Parkersburg, WV$25,425
Montgomery, AL$25,419
Wichita Falls, TX$25,391
Springfield, MO$25,391
Biloxi, MS$25,377
Monroe, LA$25,348
Johnstown, PA$25,328
Sumter, SC$25,316
Columbus, GA$25,314
Pascagoula, MS$25,259
Abilene, TX$25,259
Kingsport, TN$25,185
Albany, GA$25,185
Gulfport, MS$25,176
Alexandria, LA$25,082
Fort Smith, AR$25,010
El Paso, TX$24,933
Las Cruces, NM$24,804
Harlingen, TX$24,731
Pocatello, ID$24,727
Florence, AL$24,689
Brownsville, TX$24,684
Mcallen, TX$24,624
Dothan, AL$24,583
Columbus, MS$24,413
Altus, OK$24,280
Lawton, OK$24,226
Pierre, SD$24,122
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
$33,213
16%
Goal Oriented
$32,927
15%
Sense Of Urgency
$32,068
12%
Sales Support
$31,782
11%
Integrity
$31,495
10%
Problem Solving
$31,209
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
$31,495
$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 July 01, 2026
$26,507
Average$28,632/year
$30,689
$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
$30,689
$2,557
$590
$15
Average
$28,632
$2,386
$551
$14
25th Percentile
$26,507
$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
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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.