Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
Welcome patrons, seat them at tables or in lounge, and help ensure quality of facilities and service.
Also called: Buffet Hostess · Dining Coordinator · General Teller · Greeter · Hospitality Coordinator · Host
Median pay (national)
$30,380
$22,010–$42,600 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
427,150
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-1.5%
~107,700 openings/yr
Typical entry
No formal educational credential
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $42,600 versus $22,010 at the bottom 10% — 1.9x. The median of $30,380 leaves roughly 40% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -1.5% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 107,700 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 54 states with released data, Hawaii pays the most for this role (median $43,070, +42% vs the national median), while Guam sits lowest at $19,920 — a 116% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Speaking, Reading Comprehension as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
Tailor your resume to Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
Honest tailoring
See how your resume lines up with Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
Refit re-angles your real experience toward this role using the skills above — and never invents skills you don't have. A no-fabrication gate checks every change before you see it.
Free. No account needed to see your first re-fit.
Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Provide guests with menus.
- Supervise and coordinate activities of dining room staff to ensure that patrons receive prompt and courteous service.
- Answer telephone calls and respond to inquiries or transfer calls.
- Inspect restrooms for cleanliness and availability of supplies, and clean restrooms when necessary.
- Take and prepare to-go orders.
- Inform patrons of establishment specialties and features.
- Greet guests and seat them at tables or in waiting areas.
- Maintain contact with kitchen staff, management, serving staff, and customers to ensure that dining details are handled properly and customers' concerns are addressed.
- Assign patrons to tables suitable for their needs and according to rotation so that servers receive an appropriate number of seatings.
- Speak with patrons to ensure satisfaction with food and service, to respond to complaints, or to make conversation.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Windows
- Avenista Table Reservations
- GuestBridge Reserve
- Hospitality Control Solutions Aloha Point-of-Sale
- iMagic Restaurant Reservation
- OpenTable
- Reservation software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Food Production
- Psychology
- Computers and Electronics
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Foreign Language
- Administration and Management