A FOH'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 FOH Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a FOH'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): $29,562
Early Career (1-2 years): $29,970
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $30,671
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $30,766
Expert (over 8 years): $30,926
Levels
Salary
Entry Level FOH
$29,562
Intermediate Level FOH
$29,970
Senior Level FOH
$30,671
Specialist Level FOH
$30,766
Expert Level FOH
$30,926
$29,5620 yr
$29,970< 2 yrs
$30,6712-4 yrs
$30,7665-8 yrs
$30,926> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do FOH 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 FOHs.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $33,360.
California: $33,233.
Massachusetts: $32,790.
District of Columbia$33,360
California$33,233
Massachusetts$32,790
Washington$32,670
New Jersey$32,658
Alaska$32,615
Connecticut$32,200
New York$32,031
Hawaii$31,492
Rhode Island$31,238
Maryland$31,067
Minnesota$30,832
Colorado$30,741
Illinois$30,711
Oregon$30,597
Delaware$30,512
New Hampshire$30,459
Virginia$30,341
Pennsylvania$29,994
Nevada$29,819
North Dakota$29,762
Michigan$29,672
Wisconsin$29,639
Vermont$29,572
Texas$29,389
Maine$29,376
Arizona$29,358
Ohio$29,337
Georgia$29,060
Indiana$28,921
Wyoming$28,894
Utah$28,852
Iowa$28,834
Kansas$28,690
Louisiana$28,647
North Carolina$28,632
Missouri$28,626
Florida$28,509
Montana$28,445
Nebraska$28,385
Kentucky$28,352
South Carolina$28,232
Tennessee$28,156
Idaho$28,126
New Mexico$27,906
Oklahoma$27,858
Alabama$27,680
South Dakota$27,382
Arkansas$27,219
West Virginia$27,132
Mississippi$26,870
Top Paying Cities for FOHs
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: $38,003
San Francisco: $37,586
Oakland: $36,794
San Jose, CA$38,003
San Francisco, CA$37,586
Oakland, CA$36,794
New York, NY$34,691
Paramus, NJ$34,269
Queens Village, NY$34,268
Passaic, NJ$34,239
Bergenfield, NJ$34,236
Stamford, CT$34,170
Huntington, NY$34,158
Newark, NJ$33,935
Bridgeport, CT$33,872
Vallejo, CA$33,812
New Brunswick, NJ$33,799
Petaluma, CA$33,781
Middlesex, NJ$33,724
Somerset, NJ$33,703
Santa Cruz, CA$33,664
Boston, MA$33,480
Monterey, CA$33,374
Seattle, WA$33,305
Santa Rosa, CA$33,299
Los Angeles, CA$33,290
Juneau, AK$33,212
Washington, DC$33,179
Orange, CA$33,072
Santa Ana, CA$32,992
Long Beach, CA$32,962
Anaheim, CA$32,956
Anchorage, AK$32,941
Santa Maria, CA$32,850
Everett, WA$32,844
Danbury, CT$32,738
Bremerton, WA$32,697
Tacoma, WA$32,588
New Suffolk, NY$32,588
Sacramento, CA$32,579
Santa Barbara, CA$32,546
Trenton, NJ$32,513
San Diego, CA$32,513
Brockton, MA$32,480
Fairbanks, AK$32,406
Lompoc, CA$32,329
Lowell, MA$32,305
Ventura, CA$32,299
Nashua, NH$32,293
Stockton, CA$32,290
Modesto, CA$32,070
Poughkeepsie, NY$32,004
Olympia, WA$31,947
Kennewick, WA$31,947
New Haven, CT$31,934
Lawrence, MA$31,826
Hartford, CT$31,796
Riverside, CA$31,790
New Bedford, MA$31,760
Richland, WA$31,760
Bakersfield, CA$31,718
San Bernardino, CA$31,705
New Britain, CT$31,702
Atlantic City, NJ$31,702
New London, CT$31,690
Norwich, CT$31,681
Portsmouth, NH$31,675
Boulder, CO$31,611
Portland, OR$31,570
Worcester, MA$31,567
Minneapolis, MN$31,473
Philadelphia, PA$31,431
Honolulu, HI$31,332
Saint Paul, MN$31,317
Vineland, NJ$31,311
Providence, RI$31,223
Chicago, IL$31,136
Bellingham, WA$31,100
Springfield, MA$31,076
Baltimore, MD$31,067
Chico, CA$30,991
Pittsfield, MA$30,910
Manchester, NH$30,853
Spokane, WA$30,720
Denver, CO$30,717
Albany, NY$30,576
Troy, NY$30,564
Nassau, NY$30,531
Schenectady, NY$30,500
Wilmington, DE$30,476
Burlington, VT$30,434
Salem, OR$30,422
Portland, ME$30,329
Yakima, WA$30,298
Rochester, MN$30,205
Reno, NV$30,190
Fresno, CA$30,190
Milwaukee, WI$30,163
Detroit, MI$30,133
Ann Arbor, MI$30,128
Allentown, PA$30,124
Colorado Springs, CO$30,072
Syracuse, NY$30,057
Carson City, NV$30,057
Houston, TX$30,015
Eugene, OR$30,000
Gary, IN$29,964
Springfield, OR$29,940
Bismarck, ND$29,934
Galveston, TX$29,913
Medford, OR$29,868
Fort Collins, CO$29,856
Concord, NH$29,840
Austin, TX$29,831
Mesa, AZ$29,768
Reading, PA$29,765
Phoenix, AZ$29,762
Dallas, TX$29,753
Saint Cloud, MN$29,724
Madison, WI$29,684
Utica, NY$29,602
Rochester, NY$29,554
Des Moines, IA$29,551
Raleigh, NC$29,548
Atlanta, GA$29,503
Battle Creek, MI$29,494
Salt Lake City, UT$29,485
Lancaster, PA$29,440
Harrisburg, PA$29,398
Kansas City, MO$29,367
Champaign, IL$29,361
Kansas City, KS$29,361
Fort Worth, TX$29,358
Columbus, OH$29,353
Boca Raton, FL$29,346
Pittsburgh, PA$29,334
Richmond, VA$29,322
Indianapolis, IN$29,316
Cleveland, OH$29,313
Las Vegas, NV$29,277
Cincinnati, OH$29,277
Petersburg, VA$29,232
Huntsville, AL$29,187
Lansing, MI$29,166
Lebanon, PA$29,163
Pueblo, CO$29,160
Appleton, WI$29,150
Buffalo, NY$29,138
Dayton, OH$29,129
Racine, WI$29,123
Charlotte, NC$29,120
Saint Louis, MO$29,111
York, PA$29,093
Elkhart, IN$29,093
Gastonia, NC$29,088
Billings, MT$29,080
Beaumont, TX$29,072
Lorain, OH$29,066
Benton Harbor, MI$29,060
Toledo, OH$29,054
Binghamton, NY$29,039
Rock Hill, SC$29,036
Rockford, IL$29,021
Springfield, IL$29,009
Elyria, OH$29,006
Fargo, ND$29,006
Flagstaff, AZ$28,985
Fort Lauderdale, FL$28,967
Duluth, MN$28,949
Miami, FL$28,949
Cheyenne, WY$28,928
Grand Forks, ND$28,928
Bangor, ME$28,861
Cedar Rapids, IA$28,828
Durham, NC$28,815
Louisville, KY$28,813
Grand Rapids, MI$28,807
Hialeah, FL$28,804
Casper, WY$28,762
Scranton, PA$28,726
New Orleans, LA$28,717
Virginia Beach, VA$28,714
Akron, OH$28,699
Peoria, IL$28,659
Sarasota, FL$28,653
Nashville, TN$28,632
Omaha, NE$28,632
Green Bay, WI$28,632
Baton Rouge, LA$28,617
Charleston, SC$28,611
Jamestown, NY$28,596
Davenport, IA$28,596
Tucson, AZ$28,581
Saint Petersburg, FL$28,563
Tampa, FL$28,557
Evansville, IN$28,539
Port Arthur, TX$28,539
Bradenton, FL$28,527
Santa Fe, NM$28,473
Orlando, FL$28,418
Clearwater, FL$28,409
Canton, OH$28,346
La Crosse, WI$28,346
Albuquerque, NM$28,328
Newport News, VA$28,325
High Point, NC$28,316
Ogden, UT$28,304
Corpus Christi, TX$28,280
Norfolk, VA$28,262
Laramie, WY$28,262
Rock Island, IL$28,244
Saginaw, MI$28,238
Jacksonville, FL$28,235
Salisbury, NC$28,229
Boise, ID$28,222
Moline, IL$28,207
Fort Myers, FL$28,198
Memphis, TN$28,192
Tulsa, OK$28,177
Waterloo, IA$28,159
Spartanburg, SC$28,129
Lincoln, NE$28,114
Fort Wayne, IN$28,108
Provo, UT$28,105
Cedar Falls, IA$28,069
San Antonio, TX$28,057
Greensboro, NC$28,045
South Bend, IN$28,042
Savannah, GA$28,009
Muskegon, MI$27,997
Birmingham, AL$27,994
Winston Salem, NC$27,979
Lake Charles, LA$27,906
Anderson, IN$27,900
Lexington, KY$27,891
Augusta, GA$27,882
Greenville, SC$27,882
Lima, OH$27,858
Wichita, KS$27,855
Tuscaloosa, AL$27,855
Columbia, SC$27,828
Springfield, OH$27,822
Asheville, NC$27,774
Bloomington, IN$27,752
Knoxville, TN$27,644
Shreveport, LA$27,641
Wilmington, NC$27,602
Roanoke, VA$27,602
Topeka, KS$27,548
Frankfort, KY$27,544
Oklahoma City, OK$27,523
Chillicothe, OH$27,511
Longview, TX$27,508
Melbourne, FL$27,505
Sioux Falls, SD$27,457
Mobile, AL$27,454
Terre Haute, IN$27,442
Altoona, PA$27,424
Amarillo, TX$27,403
Killeen, TX$27,394
Fayetteville, AR$27,370
Chattanooga, TN$27,361
Sioux City, IA$27,334
Idaho Falls, ID$27,328
Lynchburg, VA$27,304
Gainesville, FL$27,264
Portsmouth, OH$27,249
Little Rock, AR$27,243
Lafayette, LA$27,231
Youngstown, OH$27,231
Daytona Beach, FL$27,213
Clarksville, TN$27,210
Pensacola, FL$27,207
Temple, TX$27,205
Hopkinsville, KY$27,117
Erie, PA$27,111
Florence, SC$27,099
Charleston, WV$27,050
Great Falls, MT$27,035
Macon, GA$26,993
Tallahassee, FL$26,990
Fayetteville, NC$26,984
Waco, TX$26,978
Helena, MT$26,957
Pine Bluff, AR$26,946
Vincennes, IN$26,909
Lubbock, TX$26,897
Alamogordo, NM$26,879
Twin Falls, ID$26,852
Rapid City, SD$26,843
Jackson, MS$26,788
Huntington, WV$26,786
Greenville, MS$26,785
Parkersburg, WV$26,755
Montgomery, AL$26,749
Wichita Falls, TX$26,719
Springfield, MO$26,719
Biloxi, MS$26,704
Monroe, LA$26,674
Johnstown, PA$26,653
Sumter, SC$26,641
Columbus, GA$26,638
Pascagoula, MS$26,580
Abilene, TX$26,580
Kingsport, TN$26,502
Albany, GA$26,502
Gulfport, MS$26,493
Alexandria, LA$26,394
Fort Smith, AR$26,318
El Paso, TX$26,237
Las Cruces, NM$26,101
Harlingen, TX$26,025
Pocatello, ID$26,020
Florence, AL$25,981
Brownsville, TX$25,975
Mcallen, TX$25,912
Dothan, AL$25,869
Columbus, MS$25,690
Altus, OK$25,550
Lawton, OK$25,493
Pierre, SD$25,384
What Skills Can Increase a FOH'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 FOH'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
$34,950
16%
Goal Oriented
$34,649
15%
Sense Of Urgency
$33,745
12%
Sales Support
$33,444
11%
Integrity
$33,143
10%
Problem Solving
$32,841
9%
Get Latest Data
FOH Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For FOH 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,
FOH positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view FOH as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a FOH
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Hospitality & Leisure
$33,143
$16.0
10%
How Education impacts a FOH's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many FOHs 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 FOH with a No Diploma is between
$23,305
and $24,701).
FOH Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for FOH
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
FOH Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a FOH'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 FOH can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $28,704 in 2023
to around $28,520 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of FOH salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of FOH Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$28,704
2024
$28,937
2025
$28,520
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$28,704
2024
$28,937
2025
$28,520
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for FOH
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 FOH
Here are companies hiring for FOH 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 FOH Job
Ready to take the next step in your career?
Browse thousands of current FOH job openings on our job board.
Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
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.
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
Smart Recruiting
AI-Powered HR
