Key Factors That Influence Dining Room Host Salaries
A Dining Room Host'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 Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Dining Room Host'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): $28,805
Early Career (1-2 years): $29,202
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $29,885
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $29,978
Expert (over 8 years): $30,134
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Dining Room Host
$28,805
Intermediate Level Dining Room Host
$29,202
Senior Level Dining Room Host
$29,885
Specialist Level Dining Room Host
$29,978
Expert Level Dining Room Host
$30,134
$28,8050 yr
$29,202< 2 yrs
$29,8852-4 yrs
$29,9785-8 yrs
$30,134> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Dining Room Host 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 Hosts.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $32,505.
California: $32,381.
Massachusetts: $31,950.
District of Columbia$32,505
California$32,381
Massachusetts$31,950
Washington$31,832
New Jersey$31,820
Alaska$31,779
Connecticut$31,374
New York$31,210
Hawaii$30,684
Rhode Island$30,438
Maryland$30,270
Minnesota$30,041
Colorado$29,953
Illinois$29,924
Oregon$29,812
Delaware$29,730
New Hampshire$29,679
Virginia$29,563
Pennsylvania$29,225
Nevada$29,055
North Dakota$28,999
Michigan$28,911
Wisconsin$28,879
Vermont$28,814
Texas$28,635
Maine$28,623
Arizona$28,606
Ohio$28,585
Georgia$28,315
Indiana$28,180
Wyoming$28,154
Utah$28,113
Iowa$28,095
Kansas$27,954
Louisiana$27,913
North Carolina$27,898
Missouri$27,892
Florida$27,778
Montana$27,716
Nebraska$27,658
Kentucky$27,625
South Carolina$27,508
Tennessee$27,434
Idaho$27,405
New Mexico$27,191
Oklahoma$27,144
Alabama$26,971
South Dakota$26,680
Arkansas$26,521
West Virginia$26,436
Mississippi$26,181
Top Paying Cities for Dining Room Hosts
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: $37,028
San Francisco: $36,623
Oakland: $35,851
San Jose, CA$37,028
San Francisco, CA$36,623
Oakland, CA$35,851
New York, NY$33,802
Paramus, NJ$33,391
Queens Village, NY$33,389
Passaic, NJ$33,361
Bergenfield, NJ$33,359
Stamford, CT$33,294
Huntington, NY$33,282
Newark, NJ$33,065
Bridgeport, CT$33,003
Vallejo, CA$32,945
New Brunswick, NJ$32,933
Petaluma, CA$32,916
Middlesex, NJ$32,860
Somerset, NJ$32,839
Santa Cruz, CA$32,801
Boston, MA$32,622
Monterey, CA$32,519
Seattle, WA$32,452
Santa Rosa, CA$32,446
Los Angeles, CA$32,437
Juneau, AK$32,361
Washington, DC$32,328
Orange, CA$32,224
Santa Ana, CA$32,146
Long Beach, CA$32,117
Anaheim, CA$32,111
Anchorage, AK$32,096
Santa Maria, CA$32,008
Everett, WA$32,003
Danbury, CT$31,899
Bremerton, WA$31,859
Tacoma, WA$31,753
New Suffolk, NY$31,752
Sacramento, CA$31,744
Santa Barbara, CA$31,712
Trenton, NJ$31,680
San Diego, CA$31,680
Brockton, MA$31,647
Fairbanks, AK$31,575
Lompoc, CA$31,500
Lowell, MA$31,477
Ventura, CA$31,471
Nashua, NH$31,465
Stockton, CA$31,462
Modesto, CA$31,248
Poughkeepsie, NY$31,183
Olympia, WA$31,128
Kennewick, WA$31,128
New Haven, CT$31,116
Lawrence, MA$31,010
Hartford, CT$30,981
Riverside, CA$30,975
New Bedford, MA$30,946
Richland, WA$30,946
Bakersfield, CA$30,905
San Bernardino, CA$30,893
New Britain, CT$30,890
Atlantic City, NJ$30,890
New London, CT$30,878
Norwich, CT$30,869
Portsmouth, NH$30,863
Boulder, CO$30,801
Portland, OR$30,761
Worcester, MA$30,758
Minneapolis, MN$30,667
Philadelphia, PA$30,626
Honolulu, HI$30,529
Saint Paul, MN$30,515
Vineland, NJ$30,508
Providence, RI$30,423
Chicago, IL$30,338
Bellingham, WA$30,303
Springfield, MA$30,279
Baltimore, MD$30,270
Chico, CA$30,197
Pittsfield, MA$30,118
Manchester, NH$30,062
Spokane, WA$29,933
Denver, CO$29,930
Albany, NY$29,792
Troy, NY$29,780
Nassau, NY$29,749
Schenectady, NY$29,718
Wilmington, DE$29,695
Burlington, VT$29,654
Salem, OR$29,642
Portland, ME$29,551
Yakima, WA$29,522
Rochester, MN$29,431
Reno, NV$29,416
Fresno, CA$29,416
Milwaukee, WI$29,390
Detroit, MI$29,360
Ann Arbor, MI$29,355
Allentown, PA$29,352
Colorado Springs, CO$29,302
Syracuse, NY$29,287
Carson City, NV$29,287
Houston, TX$29,246
Eugene, OR$29,231
Gary, IN$29,196
Springfield, OR$29,172
Bismarck, ND$29,167
Galveston, TX$29,146
Medford, OR$29,102
Fort Collins, CO$29,090
Concord, NH$29,076
Austin, TX$29,067
Mesa, AZ$29,005
Reading, PA$29,002
Phoenix, AZ$28,999
Dallas, TX$28,990
Saint Cloud, MN$28,962
Madison, WI$28,923
Utica, NY$28,844
Rochester, NY$28,797
Des Moines, IA$28,794
Raleigh, NC$28,791
Atlanta, GA$28,747
Battle Creek, MI$28,738
Salt Lake City, UT$28,729
Lancaster, PA$28,685
Harrisburg, PA$28,644
Kansas City, MO$28,615
Champaign, IL$28,609
Kansas City, KS$28,609
Fort Worth, TX$28,606
Columbus, OH$28,601
Boca Raton, FL$28,594
Pittsburgh, PA$28,582
Richmond, VA$28,571
Indianapolis, IN$28,565
Cleveland, OH$28,562
Las Vegas, NV$28,527
Cincinnati, OH$28,527
Petersburg, VA$28,483
Huntsville, AL$28,439
Lansing, MI$28,419
Lebanon, PA$28,415
Pueblo, CO$28,412
Appleton, WI$28,403
Buffalo, NY$28,392
Dayton, OH$28,383
Racine, WI$28,377
Charlotte, NC$28,374
Saint Louis, MO$28,365
York, PA$28,348
Elkhart, IN$28,348
Gastonia, NC$28,342
Billings, MT$28,335
Beaumont, TX$28,327
Lorain, OH$28,321
Benton Harbor, MI$28,315
Toledo, OH$28,309
Binghamton, NY$28,295
Rock Hill, SC$28,292
Rockford, IL$28,277
Springfield, IL$28,265
Elyria, OH$28,262
Fargo, ND$28,262
Flagstaff, AZ$28,242
Fort Lauderdale, FL$28,224
Duluth, MN$28,207
Miami, FL$28,207
Cheyenne, WY$28,186
Grand Forks, ND$28,186
Bangor, ME$28,121
Cedar Rapids, IA$28,089
Durham, NC$28,077
Louisville, KY$28,074
Grand Rapids, MI$28,069
Hialeah, FL$28,066
Casper, WY$28,025
Scranton, PA$27,989
New Orleans, LA$27,981
Virginia Beach, VA$27,978
Akron, OH$27,963
Peoria, IL$27,925
Sarasota, FL$27,919
Nashville, TN$27,898
Omaha, NE$27,898
Green Bay, WI$27,898
Baton Rouge, LA$27,884
Charleston, SC$27,878
Jamestown, NY$27,863
Davenport, IA$27,863
Tucson, AZ$27,848
Saint Petersburg, FL$27,831
Tampa, FL$27,825
Evansville, IN$27,807
Port Arthur, TX$27,807
Bradenton, FL$27,796
Santa Fe, NM$27,743
Orlando, FL$27,690
Clearwater, FL$27,681
Canton, OH$27,619
La Crosse, WI$27,619
Albuquerque, NM$27,602
Newport News, VA$27,599
High Point, NC$27,590
Ogden, UT$27,578
Corpus Christi, TX$27,555
Norfolk, VA$27,537
Laramie, WY$27,537
Rock Island, IL$27,520
Saginaw, MI$27,514
Jacksonville, FL$27,511
Salisbury, NC$27,505
Boise, ID$27,499
Moline, IL$27,484
Fort Myers, FL$27,476
Memphis, TN$27,470
Tulsa, OK$27,455
Waterloo, IA$27,437
Spartanburg, SC$27,408
Lincoln, NE$27,393
Fort Wayne, IN$27,388
Provo, UT$27,385
Cedar Falls, IA$27,349
San Antonio, TX$27,338
Greensboro, NC$27,326
South Bend, IN$27,323
Savannah, GA$27,291
Muskegon, MI$27,279
Birmingham, AL$27,276
Winston Salem, NC$27,262
Lake Charles, LA$27,191
Anderson, IN$27,185
Lexington, KY$27,176
Augusta, GA$27,167
Greenville, SC$27,167
Lima, OH$27,144
Wichita, KS$27,141
Tuscaloosa, AL$27,141
Columbia, SC$27,114
Springfield, OH$27,109
Asheville, NC$27,062
Bloomington, IN$27,041
Knoxville, TN$26,935
Shreveport, LA$26,932
Wilmington, NC$26,894
Roanoke, VA$26,894
Topeka, KS$26,841
Frankfort, KY$26,838
Oklahoma City, OK$26,818
Chillicothe, OH$26,806
Longview, TX$26,803
Melbourne, FL$26,800
Sioux Falls, SD$26,753
Mobile, AL$26,750
Terre Haute, IN$26,739
Altoona, PA$26,721
Amarillo, TX$26,701
Killeen, TX$26,692
Fayetteville, AR$26,668
Chattanooga, TN$26,659
Sioux City, IA$26,633
Idaho Falls, ID$26,627
Lynchburg, VA$26,604
Gainesville, FL$26,566
Portsmouth, OH$26,551
Little Rock, AR$26,545
Lafayette, LA$26,533
Youngstown, OH$26,533
Daytona Beach, FL$26,516
Clarksville, TN$26,513
Pensacola, FL$26,510
Temple, TX$26,508
Hopkinsville, KY$26,422
Erie, PA$26,416
Florence, SC$26,404
Charleston, WV$26,357
Great Falls, MT$26,342
Macon, GA$26,301
Tallahassee, FL$26,298
Fayetteville, NC$26,292
Waco, TX$26,287
Helena, MT$26,266
Pine Bluff, AR$26,255
Vincennes, IN$26,219
Lubbock, TX$26,207
Alamogordo, NM$26,190
Twin Falls, ID$26,163
Rapid City, SD$26,155
Jackson, MS$26,102
Huntington, WV$26,100
Greenville, MS$26,099
Parkersburg, WV$26,069
Montgomery, AL$26,063
Wichita Falls, TX$26,034
Springfield, MO$26,034
Biloxi, MS$26,019
Monroe, LA$25,990
Johnstown, PA$25,970
Sumter, SC$25,958
Columbus, GA$25,955
Pascagoula, MS$25,899
Abilene, TX$25,899
Kingsport, TN$25,823
Albany, GA$25,823
Gulfport, MS$25,814
Alexandria, LA$25,717
Fort Smith, AR$25,644
El Paso, TX$25,564
Las Cruces, NM$25,432
Harlingen, TX$25,358
Pocatello, ID$25,353
Florence, AL$25,315
Brownsville, TX$25,309
Mcallen, TX$25,247
Dothan, AL$25,206
Columbus, MS$25,032
Altus, OK$24,895
Lawton, OK$24,839
Pierre, SD$24,734
What Skills Can Increase a Dining Room Host'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'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
$34,055
16%
Goal Oriented
$33,761
15%
Sense Of Urgency
$32,880
12%
Sales Support
$32,587
11%
Integrity
$32,293
10%
Problem Solving
$32,000
9%
Get Latest Data
Dining Room Host Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Dining Room Host 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 positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Dining Room Host as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Dining Room Host
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Hospitality & Leisure
$32,293
$16.0
10%
How Education impacts a Dining Room Host's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Dining Room Hosts 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 with a No Diploma is between
$23,305
and $24,701).
Understanding how a Dining Room Host'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 Dining Room Host can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $27,971 in 2023
to around $27,792 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Dining Room Host salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Dining Room Host Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$27,971
2024
$28,198
2025
$27,792
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$27,971
2024
$28,198
2025
$27,792
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Dining Room Host
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
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Common company salaries for Dining Room Host
Here are companies hiring for Dining Room Host 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 Job
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Browse thousands of current Dining Room Host job openings on our job board.
Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Gecko Hospitality - - Responsibilities: Direct service flow to guarantee exceptional guest satisfaction. Coach and counsel staff to achieve the highest ser...
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Hilton Hotels - - Responsibilities: Delight guests with upbeat service. Set up room service trays and tables in advance for timely order delivery. Take gue...
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Job Description. Job Description. The Athletic Club of Columbus (ACC) is seeking an experienced Host to join our team. As an iconic establishment rich in t...
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Landry's - - Responsibilities: Greet guests and manage seating in an upscale/fine dining environment. Provide friendly, guest-first service. Coordinate wit...
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Job Description. Job Description. Are you an ambitious hospitality professional ready to take the next step in your career. Our recruitment firm represents...
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Emergency Medicine Physician Needed near Columbus, Ohio. An excellent opportunity for a full-time EM Physician to join an Emergency Department team near Co...
more
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FAQ about Dining Room Host
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Dining Room Host?
The Hospitality & Leisure industry offers the highest average compensation for Dining Room Host 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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