Key Factors That Influence Lead Host/Hostess Salaries
A Lead 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 Lead Host/Hostess Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Lead 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): $29,156
Early Career (1-2 years): $29,559
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $30,249
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $30,344
Expert (over 8 years): $30,501
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Lead Host/Hostess
$29,156
Intermediate Level Lead Host/Hostess
$29,559
Senior Level Lead Host/Hostess
$30,249
Specialist Level Lead Host/Hostess
$30,344
Expert Level Lead Host/Hostess
$30,501
$29,1560 yr
$29,559< 2 yrs
$30,2492-4 yrs
$30,3445-8 yrs
$30,501> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Lead 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 Lead Host/Hostesses.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $32,901.
California: $32,776.
Massachusetts: $32,339.
District of Columbia$32,901
California$32,776
Massachusetts$32,339
Washington$32,221
New Jersey$32,209
Alaska$32,167
Connecticut$31,757
New York$31,591
Hawaii$31,059
Rhode Island$30,809
Maryland$30,640
Minnesota$30,408
Colorado$30,319
Illinois$30,289
Oregon$30,176
Delaware$30,093
New Hampshire$30,041
Virginia$29,924
Pennsylvania$29,582
Nevada$29,410
North Dakota$29,353
Michigan$29,264
Wisconsin$29,231
Vermont$29,166
Texas$28,985
Maine$28,973
Arizona$28,955
Ohio$28,934
Georgia$28,661
Indiana$28,524
Wyoming$28,497
Utah$28,456
Iowa$28,438
Kansas$28,295
Louisiana$28,254
North Carolina$28,239
Missouri$28,233
Florida$28,117
Montana$28,054
Nebraska$27,995
Kentucky$27,962
South Carolina$27,844
Tennessee$27,769
Idaho$27,740
New Mexico$27,523
Oklahoma$27,475
Alabama$27,300
South Dakota$27,006
Arkansas$26,845
West Virginia$26,759
Mississippi$26,500
Top Paying Cities for Lead 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: $37,480
San Francisco: $37,070
Oakland: $36,289
San Jose, CA$37,480
San Francisco, CA$37,070
Oakland, CA$36,289
New York, NY$34,214
Paramus, NJ$33,798
Queens Village, NY$33,797
Passaic, NJ$33,769
Bergenfield, NJ$33,766
Stamford, CT$33,700
Huntington, NY$33,688
Newark, NJ$33,469
Bridgeport, CT$33,406
Vallejo, CA$33,347
New Brunswick, NJ$33,335
Petaluma, CA$33,317
Middlesex, NJ$33,261
Somerset, NJ$33,240
Santa Cruz, CA$33,201
Boston, MA$33,020
Monterey, CA$32,916
Seattle, WA$32,848
Santa Rosa, CA$32,842
Los Angeles, CA$32,833
Juneau, AK$32,756
Washington, DC$32,723
Orange, CA$32,617
Santa Ana, CA$32,539
Long Beach, CA$32,509
Anaheim, CA$32,503
Anchorage, AK$32,488
Santa Maria, CA$32,399
Everett, WA$32,393
Danbury, CT$32,288
Bremerton, WA$32,247
Tacoma, WA$32,140
New Suffolk, NY$32,140
Sacramento, CA$32,131
Santa Barbara, CA$32,099
Trenton, NJ$32,066
San Diego, CA$32,066
Brockton, MA$32,033
Fairbanks, AK$31,961
Lompoc, CA$31,885
Lowell, MA$31,861
Ventura, CA$31,855
Nashua, NH$31,849
Stockton, CA$31,846
Modesto, CA$31,629
Poughkeepsie, NY$31,564
Olympia, WA$31,507
Kennewick, WA$31,507
New Haven, CT$31,496
Lawrence, MA$31,389
Hartford, CT$31,359
Riverside, CA$31,353
New Bedford, MA$31,323
Richland, WA$31,323
Bakersfield, CA$31,282
San Bernardino, CA$31,270
New Britain, CT$31,267
Atlantic City, NJ$31,267
New London, CT$31,255
Norwich, CT$31,246
Portsmouth, NH$31,240
Boulder, CO$31,177
Portland, OR$31,136
Worcester, MA$31,133
Minneapolis, MN$31,041
Philadelphia, PA$30,999
Honolulu, HI$30,901
Saint Paul, MN$30,887
Vineland, NJ$30,880
Providence, RI$30,794
Chicago, IL$30,708
Bellingham, WA$30,672
Springfield, MA$30,649
Baltimore, MD$30,640
Chico, CA$30,565
Pittsfield, MA$30,485
Manchester, NH$30,429
Spokane, WA$30,298
Denver, CO$30,295
Albany, NY$30,155
Troy, NY$30,144
Nassau, NY$30,112
Schenectady, NY$30,081
Wilmington, DE$30,057
Burlington, VT$30,016
Salem, OR$30,004
Portland, ME$29,912
Yakima, WA$29,882
Rochester, MN$29,790
Reno, NV$29,775
Fresno, CA$29,775
Milwaukee, WI$29,748
Detroit, MI$29,719
Ann Arbor, MI$29,714
Allentown, PA$29,710
Colorado Springs, CO$29,659
Syracuse, NY$29,644
Carson City, NV$29,644
Houston, TX$29,603
Eugene, OR$29,588
Gary, IN$29,552
Springfield, OR$29,528
Bismarck, ND$29,522
Galveston, TX$29,502
Medford, OR$29,457
Fort Collins, CO$29,445
Concord, NH$29,430
Austin, TX$29,421
Mesa, AZ$29,359
Reading, PA$29,356
Phoenix, AZ$29,353
Dallas, TX$29,344
Saint Cloud, MN$29,316
Madison, WI$29,276
Utica, NY$29,196
Rochester, NY$29,148
Des Moines, IA$29,145
Raleigh, NC$29,142
Atlanta, GA$29,098
Battle Creek, MI$29,089
Salt Lake City, UT$29,080
Lancaster, PA$29,035
Harrisburg, PA$28,994
Kansas City, MO$28,964
Champaign, IL$28,958
Kansas City, KS$28,958
Fort Worth, TX$28,955
Columbus, OH$28,950
Boca Raton, FL$28,943
Pittsburgh, PA$28,931
Richmond, VA$28,919
Indianapolis, IN$28,913
Cleveland, OH$28,910
Las Vegas, NV$28,875
Cincinnati, OH$28,875
Petersburg, VA$28,830
Huntsville, AL$28,786
Lansing, MI$28,766
Lebanon, PA$28,762
Pueblo, CO$28,759
Appleton, WI$28,750
Buffalo, NY$28,738
Dayton, OH$28,729
Racine, WI$28,723
Charlotte, NC$28,720
Saint Louis, MO$28,711
York, PA$28,693
Elkhart, IN$28,693
Gastonia, NC$28,688
Billings, MT$28,681
Beaumont, TX$28,673
Lorain, OH$28,667
Benton Harbor, MI$28,661
Toledo, OH$28,655
Binghamton, NY$28,640
Rock Hill, SC$28,637
Rockford, IL$28,622
Springfield, IL$28,610
Elyria, OH$28,607
Fargo, ND$28,607
Flagstaff, AZ$28,586
Fort Lauderdale, FL$28,569
Duluth, MN$28,551
Miami, FL$28,551
Cheyenne, WY$28,530
Grand Forks, ND$28,530
Bangor, ME$28,465
Cedar Rapids, IA$28,432
Durham, NC$28,419
Louisville, KY$28,417
Grand Rapids, MI$28,411
Hialeah, FL$28,408
Casper, WY$28,367
Scranton, PA$28,331
New Orleans, LA$28,322
Virginia Beach, VA$28,319
Akron, OH$28,304
Peoria, IL$28,265
Sarasota, FL$28,260
Nashville, TN$28,239
Omaha, NE$28,239
Green Bay, WI$28,239
Baton Rouge, LA$28,224
Charleston, SC$28,218
Jamestown, NY$28,203
Davenport, IA$28,203
Tucson, AZ$28,188
Saint Petersburg, FL$28,170
Tampa, FL$28,164
Evansville, IN$28,147
Port Arthur, TX$28,147
Bradenton, FL$28,135
Santa Fe, NM$28,081
Orlando, FL$28,028
Clearwater, FL$28,019
Canton, OH$27,956
La Crosse, WI$27,956
Albuquerque, NM$27,939
Newport News, VA$27,936
High Point, NC$27,927
Ogden, UT$27,915
Corpus Christi, TX$27,891
Norfolk, VA$27,873
Laramie, WY$27,873
Rock Island, IL$27,855
Saginaw, MI$27,849
Jacksonville, FL$27,846
Salisbury, NC$27,841
Boise, ID$27,835
Moline, IL$27,820
Fort Myers, FL$27,811
Memphis, TN$27,805
Tulsa, OK$27,790
Waterloo, IA$27,772
Spartanburg, SC$27,742
Lincoln, NE$27,728
Fort Wayne, IN$27,722
Provo, UT$27,719
Cedar Falls, IA$27,683
San Antonio, TX$27,671
Greensboro, NC$27,659
South Bend, IN$27,656
Savannah, GA$27,624
Muskegon, MI$27,612
Birmingham, AL$27,609
Winston Salem, NC$27,594
Lake Charles, LA$27,523
Anderson, IN$27,517
Lexington, KY$27,508
Augusta, GA$27,499
Greenville, SC$27,499
Lima, OH$27,475
Wichita, KS$27,472
Tuscaloosa, AL$27,472
Columbia, SC$27,445
Springfield, OH$27,439
Asheville, NC$27,392
Bloomington, IN$27,371
Knoxville, TN$27,264
Shreveport, LA$27,261
Wilmington, NC$27,222
Roanoke, VA$27,222
Topeka, KS$27,169
Frankfort, KY$27,166
Oklahoma City, OK$27,145
Chillicothe, OH$27,133
Longview, TX$27,130
Melbourne, FL$27,127
Sioux Falls, SD$27,080
Mobile, AL$27,077
Terre Haute, IN$27,065
Altoona, PA$27,047
Amarillo, TX$27,026
Killeen, TX$27,017
Fayetteville, AR$26,994
Chattanooga, TN$26,985
Sioux City, IA$26,958
Idaho Falls, ID$26,952
Lynchburg, VA$26,928
Gainesville, FL$26,890
Portsmouth, OH$26,875
Little Rock, AR$26,869
Lafayette, LA$26,857
Youngstown, OH$26,857
Daytona Beach, FL$26,839
Clarksville, TN$26,836
Pensacola, FL$26,833
Temple, TX$26,831
Hopkinsville, KY$26,744
Erie, PA$26,738
Florence, SC$26,726
Charleston, WV$26,679
Great Falls, MT$26,664
Macon, GA$26,622
Tallahassee, FL$26,619
Fayetteville, NC$26,613
Waco, TX$26,607
Helena, MT$26,587
Pine Bluff, AR$26,575
Vincennes, IN$26,539
Lubbock, TX$26,527
Alamogordo, NM$26,509
Twin Falls, ID$26,483
Rapid City, SD$26,474
Jackson, MS$26,420
Huntington, WV$26,418
Greenville, MS$26,417
Parkersburg, WV$26,387
Montgomery, AL$26,382
Wichita Falls, TX$26,352
Springfield, MO$26,352
Biloxi, MS$26,337
Monroe, LA$26,307
Johnstown, PA$26,286
Sumter, SC$26,275
Columbus, GA$26,272
Pascagoula, MS$26,215
Abilene, TX$26,215
Kingsport, TN$26,138
Albany, GA$26,138
Gulfport, MS$26,129
Alexandria, LA$26,031
Fort Smith, AR$25,957
El Paso, TX$25,876
Las Cruces, NM$25,743
Harlingen, TX$25,667
Pocatello, ID$25,662
Florence, AL$25,624
Brownsville, TX$25,618
Mcallen, TX$25,555
Dothan, AL$25,514
Columbus, MS$25,337
Altus, OK$25,199
Lawton, OK$25,142
Pierre, SD$25,035
What Skills Can Increase a Lead 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 Lead 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
$34,470
16%
Goal Oriented
$34,173
15%
Sense Of Urgency
$33,281
12%
Sales Support
$32,984
11%
Integrity
$32,687
10%
Problem Solving
$32,390
9%
Get Latest Data
Lead Host/Hostess Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Lead 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,
Lead Host/Hostess positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Lead Host/Hostess as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Lead Host/Hostess
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Hospitality & Leisure
$32,687
$16.0
10%
How Education impacts a Lead Host/Hostess's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Lead 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 Lead Host/Hostess with a No Diploma is between
$23,305
and $24,701).
Lead Host/Hostess Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Lead Host/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
Lead Host/Hostess Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Lead 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.
Salaries for a Lead Host/Hostess can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $28,309 in 2023
to around $28,128 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Lead Host/Hostess salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Lead Host/Hostess Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$28,309
2024
$28,539
2025
$28,128
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$28,309
2024
$28,539
2025
$28,128
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Lead Host/Hostess
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 Lead Host/Hostess
Here are companies hiring for Lead 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 Lead Host/Hostess Job
Ready to take the next step in your career?
Browse thousands of current Lead Host/Hostess 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.
FAQ about Lead Host/Hostess
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Lead Host/Hostess?
The Hospitality & Leisure industry offers the highest average compensation for Lead 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.
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
AI-Powered HR
