Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
No formal educational credential
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Hosts and hostesses in restaurants, lounges, and coffee shops focus on welcoming guests and supporting front-of-house operations. Nationally, this occupation employs about 430,000 people, indicating a sizable workforce. Despite a projected employment decline of 1.5%, there are still an estimated 108,000 openings each year, reflecting ongoing turnover and replacement needs. The national median annual salary is $30,380, with some states and metro areas offering higher pay. Typical entry into this field does not require a formal educational credential, which can make it accessible for people starting their first job, reentering the workforce, or changing careers. Strong customer service, interpersonal, and speaking and listening skills are emphasized, along with adaptability and physical strength and stamina. For those exploring related paths, similar occupations include entertainment attendants, ushers, amusement and recreation attendants, waiters and waitresses, and locker room or coatroom attendants, offering additional options within guest-facing roles.
The national median annual salary for hosts and hostesses is $30,380. Pay varies across regions, with several states and metro areas offering higher median salaries. Among the top states by opportunity score, Washington reports a median salary of $37,270, while California and New York show median salaries of $36,640 and $36,490, respectively. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA, stands out with a median salary of $42,400, and San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA, shows $39,810. These figures exceed the national median, suggesting some locations may offer stronger earning potential within this occupation. Other top metros, including New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ, and Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV, have median salaries in the mid-$30,000s. Workers comparing opportunities can use these differences to weigh potential income against other factors such as location preferences and job availability.
This occupation has national employment of about 430,000 workers, indicating a large presence across restaurants, lounges, and coffee shops. Projected employment growth is -1.5%, pointing to a slight overall decline in the number of positions over the projection period. However, there are still an estimated 108,000 annual openings. This combination of negative growth and high openings reflects ongoing replacement needs as workers change jobs, leave the occupation, or exit the labor force. The -1.5% growth rate is consistent across the top states and metro areas listed, suggesting a broadly similar outlook in those highlighted regions. For individuals considering this career, the data indicate that while total positions may contract somewhat, opportunities to enter the field will continue due to turnover. Job seekers may benefit from focusing on areas with higher opportunity scores or larger employment bases to access more potential openings.
Geography plays a noticeable role in opportunity for hosts and hostesses. Among states, California ranks highest by opportunity score at 67.38, with a median salary of $36,640 and employment of 41,100. Massachusetts and New York also show strong scores (65.87 and 65.78), with median salaries of $34,960 and $36,490. Colorado and Washington round out the top states, both with employment near 9,500 and median salaries around the mid-$30,000s. All of these states share the same projected growth rate of -1.5%, so differences come mainly from pay levels, employment size, and overall opportunity scores. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA, has the highest opportunity score (77.42) and the highest median salary at $42,400, though with relatively modest employment of 1,860. New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ, combines a high opportunity score of 77.27 with large employment of 18,530. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA, and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH, provide mid-to-upper $30,000s median salaries with solid employment bases and competitive opportunity scores.
Typical entry into host and hostess roles in restaurants, lounges, and coffee shops does not require a formal educational credential. This makes the field accessible to people without college or specialized training, including students and those changing careers. While formal education is not required, several skills are highlighted as important. Customer service, interpersonal, and speaking and listening skills support effective interaction with guests and coworkers. Physical strength and stamina and fine motor skills help with the physical aspects of the work environment. Adaptability is important for handling changing situations, while leadership can be valuable in coordinating with other staff. Mathematics and science skills are also identified, along with knowledge of computers and information technology. Together, these skills define a broad profile that can support performance in this occupation and may also be transferable to similar roles such as entertainment attendants, ushers, amusement and recreation attendants, waiters and waitresses, and locker room or coatroom attendants.
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