How much does a Cafeteria Hostess make in the United States?
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Cafeteria Hostess in the United States is $28,685 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $14.
However, a Cafeteria Hostess's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $32,627
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $26,559 to $30,748
Key Factors That Influence Cafeteria Hostess Salaries
A Cafeteria 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 Cafeteria Hostess Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Cafeteria 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): $28,145
Early Career (1-2 years): $28,533
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $29,201
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $29,292
Expert (over 8 years): $29,444
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Cafeteria Hostess
$28,145
Intermediate Level Cafeteria Hostess
$28,533
Senior Level Cafeteria Hostess
$29,201
Specialist Level Cafeteria Hostess
$29,292
Expert Level Cafeteria Hostess
$29,444
$28,1450 yr
$28,533< 2 yrs
$29,2012-4 yrs
$29,2925-8 yrs
$29,444> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Cafeteria 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 Cafeteria Hostesses.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $31,760.
California: $31,640.
Massachusetts: $31,218.
District of Columbia$31,760
California$31,640
Massachusetts$31,218
Washington$31,103
New Jersey$31,092
Alaska$31,052
Connecticut$30,656
New York$30,495
Hawaii$29,982
Rhode Island$29,741
Maryland$29,577
Minnesota$29,353
Colorado$29,267
Illinois$29,239
Oregon$29,130
Delaware$29,049
New Hampshire$28,999
Virginia$28,886
Pennsylvania$28,556
Nevada$28,390
North Dakota$28,335
Michigan$28,249
Wisconsin$28,217
Vermont$28,154
Texas$27,979
Maine$27,968
Arizona$27,951
Ohio$27,931
Georgia$27,667
Indiana$27,535
Wyoming$27,509
Utah$27,469
Iowa$27,452
Kansas$27,314
Louisiana$27,274
North Carolina$27,259
Missouri$27,254
Florida$27,142
Montana$27,082
Nebraska$27,024
Kentucky$26,993
South Carolina$26,878
Tennessee$26,806
Idaho$26,777
New Mexico$26,568
Oklahoma$26,522
Alabama$26,353
South Dakota$26,069
Arkansas$25,914
West Virginia$25,831
Mississippi$25,581
Top Paying Cities for Cafeteria 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: $36,180
San Francisco: $35,784
Oakland: $35,030
San Jose, CA$36,180
San Francisco, CA$35,784
Oakland, CA$35,030
New York, NY$33,028
Paramus, NJ$32,626
Queens Village, NY$32,625
Passaic, NJ$32,597
Bergenfield, NJ$32,595
Stamford, CT$32,532
Huntington, NY$32,520
Newark, NJ$32,308
Bridgeport, CT$32,247
Vallejo, CA$32,190
New Brunswick, NJ$32,179
Petaluma, CA$32,162
Middlesex, NJ$32,107
Somerset, NJ$32,087
Santa Cruz, CA$32,050
Boston, MA$31,875
Monterey, CA$31,774
Seattle, WA$31,708
Santa Rosa, CA$31,703
Los Angeles, CA$31,694
Juneau, AK$31,619
Washington, DC$31,588
Orange, CA$31,486
Santa Ana, CA$31,410
Long Beach, CA$31,381
Anaheim, CA$31,376
Anchorage, AK$31,361
Santa Maria, CA$31,275
Everett, WA$31,270
Danbury, CT$31,169
Bremerton, WA$31,129
Tacoma, WA$31,026
New Suffolk, NY$31,025
Sacramento, CA$31,017
Santa Barbara, CA$30,986
Trenton, NJ$30,954
San Diego, CA$30,954
Brockton, MA$30,922
Fairbanks, AK$30,852
Lompoc, CA$30,779
Lowell, MA$30,756
Ventura, CA$30,750
Nashua, NH$30,745
Stockton, CA$30,742
Modesto, CA$30,532
Poughkeepsie, NY$30,469
Olympia, WA$30,415
Kennewick, WA$30,415
New Haven, CT$30,403
Lawrence, MA$30,300
Hartford, CT$30,271
Riverside, CA$30,266
New Bedford, MA$30,237
Richland, WA$30,237
Bakersfield, CA$30,197
San Bernardino, CA$30,185
New Britain, CT$30,182
Atlantic City, NJ$30,182
New London, CT$30,171
Norwich, CT$30,162
Portsmouth, NH$30,157
Boulder, CO$30,096
Portland, OR$30,056
Worcester, MA$30,053
Minneapolis, MN$29,964
Philadelphia, PA$29,924
Honolulu, HI$29,830
Saint Paul, MN$29,816
Vineland, NJ$29,809
Providence, RI$29,726
Chicago, IL$29,643
Bellingham, WA$29,609
Springfield, MA$29,586
Baltimore, MD$29,577
Chico, CA$29,505
Pittsfield, MA$29,428
Manchester, NH$29,373
Spokane, WA$29,247
Denver, CO$29,244
Albany, NY$29,110
Troy, NY$29,098
Nassau, NY$29,067
Schenectady, NY$29,038
Wilmington, DE$29,015
Burlington, VT$28,975
Salem, OR$28,963
Portland, ME$28,874
Yakima, WA$28,846
Rochester, MN$28,757
Reno, NV$28,742
Fresno, CA$28,742
Milwaukee, WI$28,717
Detroit, MI$28,688
Ann Arbor, MI$28,683
Allentown, PA$28,679
Colorado Springs, CO$28,630
Syracuse, NY$28,616
Carson City, NV$28,616
Houston, TX$28,576
Eugene, OR$28,562
Gary, IN$28,527
Springfield, OR$28,504
Bismarck, ND$28,499
Galveston, TX$28,478
Medford, OR$28,435
Fort Collins, CO$28,424
Concord, NH$28,410
Austin, TX$28,401
Mesa, AZ$28,341
Reading, PA$28,338
Phoenix, AZ$28,335
Dallas, TX$28,326
Saint Cloud, MN$28,299
Madison, WI$28,260
Utica, NY$28,183
Rochester, NY$28,137
Des Moines, IA$28,134
Raleigh, NC$28,131
Atlanta, GA$28,088
Battle Creek, MI$28,080
Salt Lake City, UT$28,071
Lancaster, PA$28,028
Harrisburg, PA$27,988
Kansas City, MO$27,959
Champaign, IL$27,954
Kansas City, KS$27,954
Fort Worth, TX$27,951
Columbus, OH$27,946
Boca Raton, FL$27,939
Pittsburgh, PA$27,928
Richmond, VA$27,916
Indianapolis, IN$27,911
Cleveland, OH$27,908
Las Vegas, NV$27,873
Cincinnati, OH$27,873
Petersburg, VA$27,830
Huntsville, AL$27,787
Lansing, MI$27,768
Lebanon, PA$27,764
Pueblo, CO$27,761
Appleton, WI$27,753
Buffalo, NY$27,741
Dayton, OH$27,733
Racine, WI$27,727
Charlotte, NC$27,724
Saint Louis, MO$27,715
York, PA$27,698
Elkhart, IN$27,698
Gastonia, NC$27,693
Billings, MT$27,686
Beaumont, TX$27,678
Lorain, OH$27,672
Benton Harbor, MI$27,667
Toledo, OH$27,661
Binghamton, NY$27,647
Rock Hill, SC$27,644
Rockford, IL$27,629
Springfield, IL$27,618
Elyria, OH$27,615
Fargo, ND$27,615
Flagstaff, AZ$27,595
Fort Lauderdale, FL$27,578
Duluth, MN$27,561
Miami, FL$27,561
Cheyenne, WY$27,540
Grand Forks, ND$27,540
Bangor, ME$27,477
Cedar Rapids, IA$27,446
Durham, NC$27,434
Louisville, KY$27,431
Grand Rapids, MI$27,426
Hialeah, FL$27,423
Casper, WY$27,383
Scranton, PA$27,348
New Orleans, LA$27,340
Virginia Beach, VA$27,337
Akron, OH$27,322
Peoria, IL$27,285
Sarasota, FL$27,279
Nashville, TN$27,259
Omaha, NE$27,259
Green Bay, WI$27,259
Baton Rouge, LA$27,245
Charleston, SC$27,239
Jamestown, NY$27,225
Davenport, IA$27,225
Tucson, AZ$27,211
Saint Petersburg, FL$27,193
Tampa, FL$27,188
Evansville, IN$27,170
Port Arthur, TX$27,170
Bradenton, FL$27,159
Santa Fe, NM$27,107
Orlando, FL$27,056
Clearwater, FL$27,047
Canton, OH$26,987
La Crosse, WI$26,987
Albuquerque, NM$26,970
Newport News, VA$26,967
High Point, NC$26,958
Ogden, UT$26,947
Corpus Christi, TX$26,924
Norfolk, VA$26,907
Laramie, WY$26,907
Rock Island, IL$26,889
Saginaw, MI$26,884
Jacksonville, FL$26,881
Salisbury, NC$26,875
Boise, ID$26,869
Moline, IL$26,855
Fort Myers, FL$26,846
Memphis, TN$26,841
Tulsa, OK$26,826
Waterloo, IA$26,809
Spartanburg, SC$26,780
Lincoln, NE$26,766
Fort Wayne, IN$26,760
Provo, UT$26,757
Cedar Falls, IA$26,723
San Antonio, TX$26,711
Greensboro, NC$26,700
South Bend, IN$26,697
Savannah, GA$26,666
Muskegon, MI$26,654
Birmingham, AL$26,651
Winston Salem, NC$26,637
Lake Charles, LA$26,568
Anderson, IN$26,562
Lexington, KY$26,554
Augusta, GA$26,545
Greenville, SC$26,545
Lima, OH$26,522
Wichita, KS$26,519
Tuscaloosa, AL$26,519
Columbia, SC$26,493
Springfield, OH$26,488
Asheville, NC$26,442
Bloomington, IN$26,422
Knoxville, TN$26,318
Shreveport, LA$26,316
Wilmington, NC$26,278
Roanoke, VA$26,278
Topeka, KS$26,227
Frankfort, KY$26,224
Oklahoma City, OK$26,204
Chillicothe, OH$26,192
Longview, TX$26,189
Melbourne, FL$26,187
Sioux Falls, SD$26,141
Mobile, AL$26,138
Terre Haute, IN$26,126
Altoona, PA$26,109
Amarillo, TX$26,089
Killeen, TX$26,080
Fayetteville, AR$26,057
Chattanooga, TN$26,049
Sioux City, IA$26,023
Idaho Falls, ID$26,017
Lynchburg, VA$25,994
Gainesville, FL$25,957
Portsmouth, OH$25,943
Little Rock, AR$25,937
Lafayette, LA$25,926
Youngstown, OH$25,926
Daytona Beach, FL$25,908
Clarksville, TN$25,905
Pensacola, FL$25,903
Temple, TX$25,901
Hopkinsville, KY$25,817
Erie, PA$25,811
Florence, SC$25,799
Charleston, WV$25,753
Great Falls, MT$25,739
Macon, GA$25,699
Tallahassee, FL$25,696
Fayetteville, NC$25,690
Waco, TX$25,685
Helena, MT$25,664
Pine Bluff, AR$25,654
Vincennes, IN$25,619
Lubbock, TX$25,607
Alamogordo, NM$25,590
Twin Falls, ID$25,564
Rapid City, SD$25,555
Jackson, MS$25,504
Huntington, WV$25,502
Greenville, MS$25,501
Parkersburg, WV$25,472
Montgomery, AL$25,467
Wichita Falls, TX$25,438
Springfield, MO$25,438
Biloxi, MS$25,424
Monroe, LA$25,395
Johnstown, PA$25,375
Sumter, SC$25,363
Columbus, GA$25,360
Pascagoula, MS$25,306
Abilene, TX$25,306
Kingsport, TN$25,231
Albany, GA$25,231
Gulfport, MS$25,223
Alexandria, LA$25,128
Fort Smith, AR$25,056
El Paso, TX$24,979
Las Cruces, NM$24,850
Harlingen, TX$24,777
Pocatello, ID$24,772
Florence, AL$24,735
Brownsville, TX$24,729
Mcallen, TX$24,669
Dothan, AL$24,629
Columbus, MS$24,459
Altus, OK$24,325
Lawton, OK$24,270
Pierre, SD$24,167
What Skills Can Increase a Cafeteria 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 Cafeteria 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
$33,275
16%
Goal Oriented
$32,988
15%
Sense Of Urgency
$32,127
12%
Sales Support
$31,840
11%
Integrity
$31,554
10%
Problem Solving
$31,267
9%
Get Latest Data
Cafeteria Hostess Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Cafeteria 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,
Cafeteria Hostess positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Cafeteria Hostess as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Cafeteria Hostess
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Hospitality & Leisure
$31,554
$15.0
10%
How Education impacts a Cafeteria Hostess's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Cafeteria 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 Cafeteria Hostess with a No Diploma is between
$23,305
and $24,701).
Cafeteria Hostess Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Cafeteria 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
Cafeteria Hostess Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Cafeteria 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.
Salaries for a Cafeteria Hostess can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $27,330 in 2023
to around $27,155 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Cafeteria Hostess salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Cafeteria Hostess Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$27,330
2024
$27,552
2025
$27,155
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$27,330
2024
$27,552
2025
$27,155
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Cafeteria Hostess
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
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Common company salaries for Cafeteria Hostess
Here are companies hiring for Cafeteria 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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FAQ about Cafeteria Hostess
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Cafeteria Hostess?
The Hospitality & Leisure industry offers the highest average compensation for Cafeteria 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.
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