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): $29,556
Early Career (1-2 years): $29,964
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $30,665
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $30,761
Expert (over 8 years): $30,920
Levels
Salary
Entry Level FOH
$29,556
Intermediate Level FOH
$29,964
Senior Level FOH
$30,665
Specialist Level FOH
$30,761
Expert Level FOH
$30,920
$29,5560 yr
$29,964< 2 yrs
$30,6652-4 yrs
$30,7615-8 yrs
$30,920> 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: $33,353.
California: $33,226.
Massachusetts: $32,784.
District of Columbia$33,353
California$33,226
Massachusetts$32,784
Washington$32,663
New Jersey$32,651
Alaska$32,609
Connecticut$32,193
New York$32,024
Hawaii$31,485
Rhode Island$31,232
Maryland$31,060
Minnesota$30,825
Colorado$30,735
Illinois$30,705
Oregon$30,591
Delaware$30,506
New Hampshire$30,453
Virginia$30,334
Pennsylvania$29,988
Nevada$29,813
North Dakota$29,756
Michigan$29,666
Wisconsin$29,633
Vermont$29,566
Texas$29,383
Maine$29,371
Arizona$29,352
Ohio$29,331
Georgia$29,054
Indiana$28,916
Wyoming$28,889
Utah$28,846
Iowa$28,828
Kansas$28,684
Louisiana$28,642
North Carolina$28,626
Missouri$28,620
Florida$28,503
Montana$28,440
Nebraska$28,379
Kentucky$28,346
South Carolina$28,226
Tennessee$28,151
Idaho$28,120
New Mexico$27,900
Oklahoma$27,852
Alabama$27,675
South Dakota$27,376
Arkansas$27,214
West Virginia$27,126
Mississippi$26,864
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: $37,995
San Francisco: $37,579
Oakland: $36,787
San Jose, CA$37,995
San Francisco, CA$37,579
Oakland, CA$36,787
New York, NY$34,684
Paramus, NJ$34,262
Queens Village, NY$34,261
Passaic, NJ$34,232
Bergenfield, NJ$34,229
Stamford, CT$34,163
Huntington, NY$34,151
Newark, NJ$33,928
Bridgeport, CT$33,865
Vallejo, CA$33,805
New Brunswick, NJ$33,793
Petaluma, CA$33,775
Middlesex, NJ$33,717
Somerset, NJ$33,696
Santa Cruz, CA$33,657
Boston, MA$33,473
Monterey, CA$33,368
Seattle, WA$33,299
Santa Rosa, CA$33,293
Los Angeles, CA$33,284
Juneau, AK$33,205
Washington, DC$33,172
Orange, CA$33,065
Santa Ana, CA$32,985
Long Beach, CA$32,955
Anaheim, CA$32,949
Anchorage, AK$32,934
Santa Maria, CA$32,844
Everett, WA$32,838
Danbury, CT$32,732
Bremerton, WA$32,690
Tacoma, WA$32,582
New Suffolk, NY$32,581
Sacramento, CA$32,573
Santa Barbara, CA$32,540
Trenton, NJ$32,506
San Diego, CA$32,506
Brockton, MA$32,473
Fairbanks, AK$32,399
Lompoc, CA$32,323
Lowell, MA$32,298
Ventura, CA$32,292
Nashua, NH$32,286
Stockton, CA$32,283
Modesto, CA$32,064
Poughkeepsie, NY$31,997
Olympia, WA$31,940
Kennewick, WA$31,940
New Haven, CT$31,928
Lawrence, MA$31,820
Hartford, CT$31,789
Riverside, CA$31,783
New Bedford, MA$31,753
Richland, WA$31,753
Bakersfield, CA$31,711
San Bernardino, CA$31,699
New Britain, CT$31,696
Atlantic City, NJ$31,696
New London, CT$31,684
Norwich, CT$31,675
Portsmouth, NH$31,669
Boulder, CO$31,605
Portland, OR$31,564
Worcester, MA$31,560
Minneapolis, MN$31,467
Philadelphia, PA$31,425
Honolulu, HI$31,326
Saint Paul, MN$31,311
Vineland, NJ$31,304
Providence, RI$31,217
Chicago, IL$31,130
Bellingham, WA$31,094
Springfield, MA$31,069
Baltimore, MD$31,060
Chico, CA$30,985
Pittsfield, MA$30,904
Manchester, NH$30,847
Spokane, WA$30,714
Denver, CO$30,711
Albany, NY$30,569
Troy, NY$30,557
Nassau, NY$30,525
Schenectady, NY$30,494
Wilmington, DE$30,470
Burlington, VT$30,428
Salem, OR$30,416
Portland, ME$30,322
Yakima, WA$30,292
Rochester, MN$30,199
Reno, NV$30,184
Fresno, CA$30,184
Milwaukee, WI$30,157
Detroit, MI$30,127
Ann Arbor, MI$30,121
Allentown, PA$30,118
Colorado Springs, CO$30,066
Syracuse, NY$30,051
Carson City, NV$30,051
Houston, TX$30,009
Eugene, OR$29,994
Gary, IN$29,958
Springfield, OR$29,934
Bismarck, ND$29,928
Galveston, TX$29,907
Medford, OR$29,862
Fort Collins, CO$29,849
Concord, NH$29,834
Austin, TX$29,825
Mesa, AZ$29,762
Reading, PA$29,759
Phoenix, AZ$29,756
Dallas, TX$29,747
Saint Cloud, MN$29,718
Madison, WI$29,678
Utica, NY$29,596
Rochester, NY$29,548
Des Moines, IA$29,545
Raleigh, NC$29,542
Atlanta, GA$29,497
Battle Creek, MI$29,488
Salt Lake City, UT$29,479
Lancaster, PA$29,434
Harrisburg, PA$29,392
Kansas City, MO$29,361
Champaign, IL$29,355
Kansas City, KS$29,355
Fort Worth, TX$29,352
Columbus, OH$29,347
Boca Raton, FL$29,340
Pittsburgh, PA$29,328
Richmond, VA$29,316
Indianapolis, IN$29,310
Cleveland, OH$29,307
Las Vegas, NV$29,271
Cincinnati, OH$29,271
Petersburg, VA$29,226
Huntsville, AL$29,181
Lansing, MI$29,161
Lebanon, PA$29,157
Pueblo, CO$29,154
Appleton, WI$29,145
Buffalo, NY$29,133
Dayton, OH$29,123
Racine, WI$29,117
Charlotte, NC$29,114
Saint Louis, MO$29,105
York, PA$29,087
Elkhart, IN$29,087
Gastonia, NC$29,082
Billings, MT$29,074
Beaumont, TX$29,066
Lorain, OH$29,060
Benton Harbor, MI$29,054
Toledo, OH$29,048
Binghamton, NY$29,033
Rock Hill, SC$29,030
Rockford, IL$29,015
Springfield, IL$29,003
Elyria, OH$29,000
Fargo, ND$29,000
Flagstaff, AZ$28,979
Fort Lauderdale, FL$28,961
Duluth, MN$28,943
Miami, FL$28,943
Cheyenne, WY$28,922
Grand Forks, ND$28,922
Bangor, ME$28,855
Cedar Rapids, IA$28,822
Durham, NC$28,810
Louisville, KY$28,807
Grand Rapids, MI$28,801
Hialeah, FL$28,798
Casper, WY$28,756
Scranton, PA$28,720
New Orleans, LA$28,711
Virginia Beach, VA$28,708
Akron, OH$28,693
Peoria, IL$28,654
Sarasota, FL$28,648
Nashville, TN$28,626
Omaha, NE$28,626
Green Bay, WI$28,626
Baton Rouge, LA$28,611
Charleston, SC$28,605
Jamestown, NY$28,590
Davenport, IA$28,590
Tucson, AZ$28,575
Saint Petersburg, FL$28,557
Tampa, FL$28,551
Evansville, IN$28,533
Port Arthur, TX$28,533
Bradenton, FL$28,521
Santa Fe, NM$28,467
Orlando, FL$28,413
Clearwater, FL$28,404
Canton, OH$28,340
La Crosse, WI$28,340
Albuquerque, NM$28,322
Newport News, VA$28,319
High Point, NC$28,310
Ogden, UT$28,298
Corpus Christi, TX$28,274
Norfolk, VA$28,256
Laramie, WY$28,256
Rock Island, IL$28,238
Saginaw, MI$28,232
Jacksonville, FL$28,229
Salisbury, NC$28,223
Boise, ID$28,217
Moline, IL$28,202
Fort Myers, FL$28,193
Memphis, TN$28,187
Tulsa, OK$28,172
Waterloo, IA$28,154
Spartanburg, SC$28,123
Lincoln, NE$28,108
Fort Wayne, IN$28,102
Provo, UT$28,099
Cedar Falls, IA$28,063
San Antonio, TX$28,051
Greensboro, NC$28,039
South Bend, IN$28,036
Savannah, GA$28,003
Muskegon, MI$27,991
Birmingham, AL$27,988
Winston Salem, NC$27,973
Lake Charles, LA$27,900
Anderson, IN$27,894
Lexington, KY$27,885
Augusta, GA$27,876
Greenville, SC$27,876
Lima, OH$27,852
Wichita, KS$27,849
Tuscaloosa, AL$27,849
Columbia, SC$27,822
Springfield, OH$27,816
Asheville, NC$27,768
Bloomington, IN$27,747
Knoxville, TN$27,638
Shreveport, LA$27,635
Wilmington, NC$27,596
Roanoke, VA$27,596
Topeka, KS$27,542
Frankfort, KY$27,539
Oklahoma City, OK$27,518
Chillicothe, OH$27,506
Longview, TX$27,503
Melbourne, FL$27,500
Sioux Falls, SD$27,452
Mobile, AL$27,449
Terre Haute, IN$27,437
Altoona, PA$27,419
Amarillo, TX$27,397
Killeen, TX$27,388
Fayetteville, AR$27,364
Chattanooga, TN$27,355
Sioux City, IA$27,328
Idaho Falls, ID$27,322
Lynchburg, VA$27,298
Gainesville, FL$27,259
Portsmouth, OH$27,244
Little Rock, AR$27,238
Lafayette, LA$27,226
Youngstown, OH$27,226
Daytona Beach, FL$27,208
Clarksville, TN$27,205
Pensacola, FL$27,202
Temple, TX$27,200
Hopkinsville, KY$27,111
Erie, PA$27,105
Florence, SC$27,093
Charleston, WV$27,045
Great Falls, MT$27,030
Macon, GA$26,988
Tallahassee, FL$26,985
Fayetteville, NC$26,979
Waco, TX$26,973
Helena, MT$26,952
Pine Bluff, AR$26,940
Vincennes, IN$26,903
Lubbock, TX$26,891
Alamogordo, NM$26,873
Twin Falls, ID$26,846
Rapid City, SD$26,837
Jackson, MS$26,783
Huntington, WV$26,781
Greenville, MS$26,780
Parkersburg, WV$26,749
Montgomery, AL$26,744
Wichita Falls, TX$26,714
Springfield, MO$26,714
Biloxi, MS$26,699
Monroe, LA$26,668
Johnstown, PA$26,647
Sumter, SC$26,635
Columbus, GA$26,632
Pascagoula, MS$26,575
Abilene, TX$26,575
Kingsport, TN$26,497
Albany, GA$26,497
Gulfport, MS$26,488
Alexandria, LA$26,388
Fort Smith, AR$26,313
El Paso, TX$26,232
Las Cruces, NM$26,096
Harlingen, TX$26,020
Pocatello, ID$26,015
Florence, AL$25,976
Brownsville, TX$25,970
Mcallen, TX$25,906
Dothan, AL$25,864
Columbus, MS$25,685
Altus, OK$25,545
Lawton, OK$25,488
Pierre, SD$25,379
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
$34,943
16%
Goal Oriented
$34,642
15%
Sense Of Urgency
$33,738
12%
Sales Support
$33,437
11%
Integrity
$33,136
10%
Problem Solving
$32,835
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
$33,136
$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
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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
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Browse thousands of current FOH job openings on our job board.
Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Find your next job here. Will train the right candidate. Average salaries from $12 - $22/Hr, full time and part time shifts available now. Hiring for: Food...
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Find your next job here. Will train the right candidate. Average salaries from $12 - $22/Hr, full time and part time shifts available now. Hiring for: Groc...
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Find your next job here. Will train the right candidate. Average salaries from $12 - $22/Hr, full time and part time shifts available now. Hiring for: Bake...
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Find your next job here. Will train the right candidate. Average salaries from $20 - $37/Hr, full time and part time shifts available now. Hiring for: Care...
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Find your next job here. Will train the right candidate. Average salaries from $20 - $37/Hr, full time and part time shifts available now. Hiring for: Surg...
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Find your next job here. Will train the right candidate. Average salaries from $12 - $22/Hr, full time and part time shifts available now. Hiring for: Part...
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FAQ about FOH
1. What industry pays the highest salary for FOH?
The Hospitality & Leisure industry offers the highest average compensation for FOH 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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