The average salary for a host and hostess in the United States is around $31,200 per year.
Avg Salary
Hosts and hostesses earn an average yearly salary of $31,200.
Wages typically start from $22,340 and go up to $43,990.
53% below national average Updated in 2025
Host and hostess earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level host and hostess earnings begin at:
$21.15 per hour
$43,990 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level host and hostess earnings begin at:
$17.43 per hour
$36,250 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level host and hostess earnings begin at:
$15.00 per hour
$31,200 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level host and hostess earnings begin at:
$13.25 per hour
$27,570 per year
10th percentile
Starting level host and hostess earnings begin at:
$10.74 per hour
$22,340 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Host and hostess salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $47,070 |
| Oregon | $40,720 |
| District of Columbia | $37,570 |
| Washington | $37,270 |
| Maine | $36,800 |
| California | $36,640 |
| New York | $36,490 |
| Colorado | $36,340 |
| Massachusetts | $34,960 |
| Maryland | $34,860 |
| Arizona | $34,740 |
| Connecticut | $34,210 |
| New Jersey | $34,050 |
| New Hampshire | $33,920 |
| Rhode Island | $31,400 |
| Delaware | $31,200 |
| Illinois | $31,200 |
| Nevada | $31,170 |
| Vermont | $31,080 |
| Virginia | $30,490 |
| South Dakota | $30,310 |
| Alaska | $30,210 |
| Minnesota | $30,200 |
| Florida | $29,810 |
| Utah | $29,610 |
| Pennsylvania | $29,170 |
| Missouri | $29,130 |
| Michigan | $28,950 |
| Montana | $28,910 |
| North Dakota | $28,660 |
| New Mexico | $28,480 |
| Nebraska | $28,450 |
| North Carolina | $28,320 |
| Iowa | $28,210 |
| Kansas | $28,110 |
| Wisconsin | $28,060 |
| Georgia | $27,850 |
| Ohio | $27,550 |
| Tennessee | $27,490 |
| Idaho | $27,280 |
| Kentucky | $27,100 |
| Texas | $27,080 |
| South Carolina | $27,000 |
| Indiana | $26,920 |
| Arkansas | $26,760 |
| Alabama | $26,130 |
| Oklahoma | $24,740 |
| West Virginia | $24,420 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $22,710 |
| Wyoming | $22,660 |
| Louisiana | $22,060 |
| Mississippi | $21,990 |
| Guam | $19,170 |
| Puerto Rico | $18,010 |
How do host and hostess salaries compare to similar careers?
Hosts and hostesses earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than housekeeping cleaners but more than baristas.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Housekeeping cleaner salary | $36K |
| Vehicle cleaner salary | $36K |
| Food preparation worker salary | $35K |
| Lifeguard salary | $34K |
| Cashier salary | $33K |
| Host and hostess salary | $31K |
| Amusement attendant salary | $32K |
| Barista salary | $31K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)