Host and Hostess salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A host and hostess earns a median of $31,200 a year ($15.00 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $32,690. About 432,690 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $31,200
- Gross pay
- $1,200.00
- Federal income tax
- −$60.15
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$74.40
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$17.40
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,048.05
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $31,200
- Federal
- $1,564
- FICA
- $2,387
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $27,249
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Host and Hostess salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $47,070 | $45,330 | 2,650 |
| Oregon | $40,720 | $42,600 | 5,740 |
| District of Columbia | $37,570 | $41,340 | 2,450 |
| Washington | $37,270 | $42,140 | 9,530 |
| Maine | $36,800 | $39,050 | 1,460 |
| California | $36,640 | $39,900 | 41,100 |
| New York | $36,490 | $40,100 | 18,640 |
| Colorado | $36,340 | $39,250 | 9,490 |
| Massachusetts | $34,960 | $35,420 | 13,540 |
| Maryland | $34,860 | $35,110 | 7,390 |
| Arizona | $34,740 | $37,960 | 10,710 |
| Connecticut | $34,210 | $36,000 | 3,670 |
| New Jersey | $34,050 | $35,800 | 9,420 |
| New Hampshire | $33,920 | $32,900 | 2,130 |
| Rhode Island | $31,400 | $34,330 | — |
| Delaware | $31,200 | $32,600 | 1,680 |
| Illinois | $31,200 | $34,750 | 16,500 |
| Nevada | $31,170 | $35,010 | 6,570 |
| Vermont | $31,080 | $35,670 | 1,060 |
| Virginia | $30,490 | $33,240 | 10,890 |
| South Dakota | $30,310 | $31,000 | 630 |
| Alaska | $30,210 | $33,840 | 740 |
| Minnesota | $30,200 | $31,620 | 7,150 |
| Florida | $29,810 | $33,170 | 37,100 |
| Utah | $29,610 | $31,670 | 4,950 |
| Pennsylvania | $29,170 | $30,020 | 18,020 |
| Missouri | $29,130 | $32,440 | 8,510 |
| Michigan | $28,950 | $31,010 | 12,620 |
| Montana | $28,910 | $29,320 | 1,260 |
| North Dakota | $28,660 | $29,970 | 800 |
| New Mexico | $28,480 | $30,220 | 2,670 |
| Nebraska | $28,450 | $31,480 | 2,830 |
| North Carolina | $28,320 | $28,120 | 15,160 |
| Iowa | $28,210 | $30,690 | 2,630 |
| Kansas | $28,110 | $28,650 | 4,540 |
| Wisconsin | $28,060 | $28,440 | 6,430 |
| Georgia | $27,850 | $27,170 | 17,300 |
| Ohio | $27,550 | $29,370 | 15,480 |
| Tennessee | $27,490 | $27,690 | 11,280 |
| Idaho | $27,280 | $26,370 | 2,360 |
| Kentucky | $27,100 | $26,900 | 5,120 |
| Texas | $27,080 | $27,100 | 35,550 |
| South Carolina | $27,000 | $26,870 | 7,990 |
| Indiana | $26,920 | $27,730 | 9,730 |
| Arkansas | $26,760 | $27,560 | 3,110 |
| Alabama | $26,130 | $26,530 | 5,400 |
| Oklahoma | $24,740 | $26,860 | 5,060 |
| West Virginia | $24,420 | $25,510 | 1,580 |
| Wyoming | $22,660 | $25,430 | 660 |
| Louisiana | $22,060 | $23,320 | 6,440 |
| Mississippi | $21,990 | $23,510 | 2,660 |
Similar jobs
- Fast Food and Counter Worker: $31,200
- Cook: $30,890
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper: $33,980
- Bartender: $34,340
- Dishwasher: $34,810
- Waiter and Waitress: $35,230
- Food Preparation Worker: $35,320
- Food Server: $35,360
BLS occupation: Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 35-9031). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a host and hostess make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $15.00; the average is $15.72.
Which state pays hosts and hostesses the most?
Hawaii ($47,070 median), followed by Oregon and District of Columbia.
What is the salary range for a host and hostess?
The bottom 10% earn under $22,340 and the top 10% earn over $43,990 a year.
How much is $31,200 after taxes?
About $27,249 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $26,598 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.