How much does a host make?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics groups this role under Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop (SOC 35-9031). In its May 2025 wage survey, the national median was $15.00 an hour, or about $31,200 a year for full-time work, across roughly 432,690 people employed nationally. The middle of the market sits between $10.74 at the 10th percentile and $21.15 at the 90th.
Host pay in Boston
In the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area, the median for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop was $16.89 an hour ($35,140a year), reflecting Massachusetts' higher minimum wage and cost of living.
What moves the number
Host pay is usually an hourly wage, sometimes with a share of tips depending on the restaurant. Pay depends on the type of concept, how busy the door gets, local minimum wage rules, and the host's experience with reservation systems. Fine dining and high-volume restaurants may pay more for hosts who can manage complex floors.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. BLS figures for tipped roles may not capture all tip income. The BLS category is the closest official match for this role, not an exact one.
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