Dining Room Host/Hostess Salary in the United States
How much does a Dining Room Host/Hostess make in the United States?
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Dining Room Host/Hostess in the United States is $28,999 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $14.
However, a Dining Room Host/Hostess's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $32,984
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $26,850 to $31,085
Key Factors That Influence Dining Room Host/Hostess Salaries
A Dining Room 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 Dining Room Host/Hostess Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Dining Room 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): $28,453
Early Career (1-2 years): $28,846
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $29,521
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $29,613
Expert (over 8 years): $29,766
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Dining Room Host/Hostess
$28,453
Intermediate Level Dining Room Host/Hostess
$28,846
Senior Level Dining Room Host/Hostess
$29,521
Specialist Level Dining Room Host/Hostess
$29,613
Expert Level Dining Room Host/Hostess
$29,766
$28,4530 yr
$28,846< 2 yrs
$29,5212-4 yrs
$29,6135-8 yrs
$29,766> 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?
How Do Dining Room 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 Dining Room Host/Hostesses.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $32,108.
California: $31,986.
Massachusetts: $31,560.
District of Columbia$32,108
California$31,986
Massachusetts$31,560
Washington$31,444
New Jersey$31,432
Alaska$31,392
Connecticut$30,991
New York$30,829
Hawaii$30,310
Rhode Island$30,066
Maryland$29,901
Minnesota$29,675
Colorado$29,588
Illinois$29,559
Oregon$29,449
Delaware$29,367
New Hampshire$29,316
Virginia$29,202
Pennsylvania$28,869
Nevada$28,701
North Dakota$28,645
Michigan$28,558
Wisconsin$28,527
Vermont$28,463
Texas$28,286
Maine$28,274
Arizona$28,257
Ohio$28,237
Georgia$27,970
Indiana$27,836
Wyoming$27,810
Utah$27,770
Iowa$27,752
Kansas$27,613
Louisiana$27,572
North Carolina$27,558
Missouri$27,552
Florida$27,439
Montana$27,378
Nebraska$27,320
Kentucky$27,288
South Carolina$27,172
Tennessee$27,100
Idaho$27,071
New Mexico$26,859
Oklahoma$26,813
Alabama$26,642
South Dakota$26,354
Arkansas$26,198
West Virginia$26,114
Mississippi$25,861
Top Paying Cities for Dining Room 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: $36,577
San Francisco: $36,176
Oakland: $35,414
San Jose, CA$36,577
San Francisco, CA$36,176
Oakland, CA$35,414
New York, NY$33,389
Paramus, NJ$32,983
Queens Village, NY$32,982
Passaic, NJ$32,954
Bergenfield, NJ$32,952
Stamford, CT$32,888
Huntington, NY$32,876
Newark, NJ$32,662
Bridgeport, CT$32,601
Vallejo, CA$32,543
New Brunswick, NJ$32,531
Petaluma, CA$32,514
Middlesex, NJ$32,459
Somerset, NJ$32,439
Santa Cruz, CA$32,401
Boston, MA$32,224
Monterey, CA$32,122
Seattle, WA$32,056
Santa Rosa, CA$32,050
Los Angeles, CA$32,041
Juneau, AK$31,966
Washington, DC$31,934
Orange, CA$31,831
Santa Ana, CA$31,754
Long Beach, CA$31,725
Anaheim, CA$31,719
Anchorage, AK$31,705
Santa Maria, CA$31,618
Everett, WA$31,612
Danbury, CT$31,510
Bremerton, WA$31,470
Tacoma, WA$31,366
New Suffolk, NY$31,365
Sacramento, CA$31,357
Santa Barbara, CA$31,325
Trenton, NJ$31,293
San Diego, CA$31,293
Brockton, MA$31,261
Fairbanks, AK$31,190
Lompoc, CA$31,116
Lowell, MA$31,093
Ventura, CA$31,087
Nashua, NH$31,081
Stockton, CA$31,078
Modesto, CA$30,867
Poughkeepsie, NY$30,803
Olympia, WA$30,748
Kennewick, WA$30,748
New Haven, CT$30,736
Lawrence, MA$30,632
Hartford, CT$30,603
Riverside, CA$30,597
New Bedford, MA$30,568
Richland, WA$30,568
Bakersfield, CA$30,527
San Bernardino, CA$30,516
New Britain, CT$30,513
Atlantic City, NJ$30,513
New London, CT$30,501
Norwich, CT$30,493
Portsmouth, NH$30,487
Boulder, CO$30,425
Portland, OR$30,385
Worcester, MA$30,382
Minneapolis, MN$30,293
Philadelphia, PA$30,252
Honolulu, HI$30,156
Saint Paul, MN$30,142
Vineland, NJ$30,136
Providence, RI$30,052
Chicago, IL$29,968
Bellingham, WA$29,933
Springfield, MA$29,910
Baltimore, MD$29,901
Chico, CA$29,829
Pittsfield, MA$29,750
Manchester, NH$29,695
Spokane, WA$29,568
Denver, CO$29,565
Albany, NY$29,428
Troy, NY$29,417
Nassau, NY$29,386
Schenectady, NY$29,356
Wilmington, DE$29,333
Burlington, VT$29,292
Salem, OR$29,280
Portland, ME$29,191
Yakima, WA$29,162
Rochester, MN$29,072
Reno, NV$29,057
Fresno, CA$29,057
Milwaukee, WI$29,031
Detroit, MI$29,002
Ann Arbor, MI$28,997
Allentown, PA$28,993
Colorado Springs, CO$28,944
Syracuse, NY$28,930
Carson City, NV$28,930
Houston, TX$28,889
Eugene, OR$28,875
Gary, IN$28,840
Springfield, OR$28,817
Bismarck, ND$28,811
Galveston, TX$28,790
Medford, OR$28,747
Fort Collins, CO$28,735
Concord, NH$28,721
Austin, TX$28,712
Mesa, AZ$28,651
Reading, PA$28,648
Phoenix, AZ$28,645
Dallas, TX$28,637
Saint Cloud, MN$28,609
Madison, WI$28,570
Utica, NY$28,492
Rochester, NY$28,445
Des Moines, IA$28,442
Raleigh, NC$28,440
Atlanta, GA$28,396
Battle Creek, MI$28,387
Salt Lake City, UT$28,379
Lancaster, PA$28,335
Harrisburg, PA$28,295
Kansas City, MO$28,266
Champaign, IL$28,260
Kansas City, KS$28,260
Fort Worth, TX$28,257
Columbus, OH$28,252
Boca Raton, FL$28,245
Pittsburgh, PA$28,234
Richmond, VA$28,222
Indianapolis, IN$28,216
Cleveland, OH$28,213
Las Vegas, NV$28,179
Cincinnati, OH$28,179
Petersburg, VA$28,135
Huntsville, AL$28,092
Lansing, MI$28,072
Lebanon, PA$28,068
Pueblo, CO$28,065
Appleton, WI$28,057
Buffalo, NY$28,045
Dayton, OH$28,036
Racine, WI$28,031
Charlotte, NC$28,028
Saint Louis, MO$28,019
York, PA$28,002
Elkhart, IN$28,002
Gastonia, NC$27,996
Billings, MT$27,989
Beaumont, TX$27,981
Lorain, OH$27,976
Benton Harbor, MI$27,970
Toledo, OH$27,964
Binghamton, NY$27,949
Rock Hill, SC$27,947
Rockford, IL$27,932
Springfield, IL$27,920
Elyria, OH$27,918
Fargo, ND$27,918
Flagstaff, AZ$27,897
Fort Lauderdale, FL$27,880
Duluth, MN$27,862
Miami, FL$27,862
Cheyenne, WY$27,842
Grand Forks, ND$27,842
Bangor, ME$27,778
Cedar Rapids, IA$27,746
Durham, NC$27,734
Louisville, KY$27,732
Grand Rapids, MI$27,726
Hialeah, FL$27,723
Casper, WY$27,683
Scranton, PA$27,648
New Orleans, LA$27,639
Virginia Beach, VA$27,636
Akron, OH$27,622
Peoria, IL$27,584
Sarasota, FL$27,578
Nashville, TN$27,558
Omaha, NE$27,558
Green Bay, WI$27,558
Baton Rouge, LA$27,543
Charleston, SC$27,538
Jamestown, NY$27,523
Davenport, IA$27,523
Tucson, AZ$27,509
Saint Petersburg, FL$27,491
Tampa, FL$27,485
Evansville, IN$27,468
Port Arthur, TX$27,468
Bradenton, FL$27,456
Santa Fe, NM$27,404
Orlando, FL$27,352
Clearwater, FL$27,343
Canton, OH$27,282
La Crosse, WI$27,282
Albuquerque, NM$27,265
Newport News, VA$27,262
High Point, NC$27,253
Ogden, UT$27,242
Corpus Christi, TX$27,219
Norfolk, VA$27,201
Laramie, WY$27,201
Rock Island, IL$27,184
Saginaw, MI$27,178
Jacksonville, FL$27,175
Salisbury, NC$27,169
Boise, ID$27,164
Moline, IL$27,149
Fort Myers, FL$27,140
Memphis, TN$27,135
Tulsa, OK$27,120
Waterloo, IA$27,103
Spartanburg, SC$27,074
Lincoln, NE$27,059
Fort Wayne, IN$27,053
Provo, UT$27,050
Cedar Falls, IA$27,016
San Antonio, TX$27,004
Greensboro, NC$26,992
South Bend, IN$26,990
Savannah, GA$26,958
Muskegon, MI$26,946
Birmingham, AL$26,943
Winston Salem, NC$26,929
Lake Charles, LA$26,859
Anderson, IN$26,853
Lexington, KY$26,845
Augusta, GA$26,836
Greenville, SC$26,836
Lima, OH$26,813
Wichita, KS$26,810
Tuscaloosa, AL$26,810
Columbia, SC$26,784
Springfield, OH$26,778
Asheville, NC$26,731
Bloomington, IN$26,711
Knoxville, TN$26,607
Shreveport, LA$26,604
Wilmington, NC$26,566
Roanoke, VA$26,566
Topeka, KS$26,514
Frankfort, KY$26,511
Oklahoma City, OK$26,491
Chillicothe, OH$26,479
Longview, TX$26,476
Melbourne, FL$26,473
Sioux Falls, SD$26,427
Mobile, AL$26,424
Terre Haute, IN$26,412
Altoona, PA$26,395
Amarillo, TX$26,375
Killeen, TX$26,366
Fayetteville, AR$26,343
Chattanooga, TN$26,334
Sioux City, IA$26,308
Idaho Falls, ID$26,302
Lynchburg, VA$26,279
Gainesville, FL$26,241
Portsmouth, OH$26,227
Little Rock, AR$26,221
Lafayette, LA$26,209
Youngstown, OH$26,209
Daytona Beach, FL$26,192
Clarksville, TN$26,189
Pensacola, FL$26,186
Temple, TX$26,184
Hopkinsville, KY$26,099
Erie, PA$26,093
Florence, SC$26,082
Charleston, WV$26,035
Great Falls, MT$26,021
Macon, GA$25,980
Tallahassee, FL$25,977
Fayetteville, NC$25,972
Waco, TX$25,966
Helena, MT$25,946
Pine Bluff, AR$25,935
Vincennes, IN$25,899
Lubbock, TX$25,888
Alamogordo, NM$25,870
Twin Falls, ID$25,844
Rapid City, SD$25,835
Jackson, MS$25,783
Huntington, WV$25,781
Greenville, MS$25,780
Parkersburg, WV$25,751
Montgomery, AL$25,745
Wichita Falls, TX$25,716
Springfield, MO$25,716
Biloxi, MS$25,702
Monroe, LA$25,673
Johnstown, PA$25,653
Sumter, SC$25,641
Columbus, GA$25,638
Pascagoula, MS$25,583
Abilene, TX$25,583
Kingsport, TN$25,508
Albany, GA$25,508
Gulfport, MS$25,499
Alexandria, LA$25,403
Fort Smith, AR$25,331
El Paso, TX$25,253
Las Cruces, NM$25,122
Harlingen, TX$25,048
Pocatello, ID$25,044
Florence, AL$25,006
Brownsville, TX$25,000
Mcallen, TX$24,939
Dothan, AL$24,899
Columbus, MS$24,726
Altus, OK$24,591
Lawton, OK$24,536
Pierre, SD$24,432
What Skills Can Increase a Dining Room 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 Dining Room 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
$33,639
16%
Goal Oriented
$33,349
15%
Sense Of Urgency
$32,479
12%
Sales Support
$32,189
11%
Integrity
$31,899
10%
Problem Solving
$31,609
9%
Get Latest Data
Dining Room Host/Hostess Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Dining Room 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,
Dining Room Host/Hostess positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Dining Room Host/Hostess as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Dining Room Host/Hostess
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Hospitality & Leisure
$31,899
$15.0
10%
How Education impacts a Dining Room Host/Hostess's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Dining Room 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 Dining Room Host/Hostess with a No Diploma is between
$23,305
and $24,701).
Understanding how a Dining Room 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 August 01, 2026
$26,850
Average$28,999/year
$31,085
$2,237
Average$2,417/month
$2,590
$516
Average$558/week
$598
$13
Average$14/hour
$15
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$31,085
$2,590
$598
$15
Average
$28,999
$2,417
$558
$14
25th Percentile
$26,850
$2,237
$516
$13
Salaries of jobs related to Dining Room Host/Hostess
Salaries for a Dining Room Host/Hostess can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $27,629 in 2023
to around $27,453 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Dining Room Host/Hostess salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Dining Room Host/Hostess Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$27,629
2024
$27,854
2025
$27,453
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$27,629
2024
$27,854
2025
$27,453
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Dining Room Host/Hostess
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Dining Room Host/Hostess
Here are companies hiring for Dining Room 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 Dining Room Host/Hostess Job
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FAQ about Dining Room Host/Hostess
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Dining Room Host/Hostess?
The Hospitality & Leisure industry offers the highest average compensation for Dining Room 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.
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