Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary in Ames, IA
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in the Ames, IA metro area earn a median of $28,480 a year ($13.69 an hour), based on BLS data for 140 workers.
Pay ranges from $18,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,560 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $31,200. Pay here is 1% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $28,210. There are 2.4 hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $30,780, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in Ames, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,750 | $9.01 |
| 25th percentile | $24,740 | $11.90 |
| Median | $28,480 | $13.69 |
| 75th percentile | $30,670 | $14.74 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,560 | $22.87 |
| Average (mean) | $30,780 | $14.80 |
Half of hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,373.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,186.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,095.38 |
| Weekly | $547.69 |
| Hourly | $13.69 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $28,480 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 410 |
| Iowa City, IA | $28,510 | 280 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $28,500 | 1,750 |
| Dubuque, IA | $28,340 | 90 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $28,270 | 850 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $28,190 | 140 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $28,080 | 150 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $28,050 | 220 |
Highest-paying states for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
| State | Median 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 |
See Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Ames, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,630 | $14.25 |
| Dishwasher | $30,110 | $14.48 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,220 | $14.05 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $22,710 | $10.92 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,410 | $17.51 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,710 | $19.09 |
| Bartender | $21,580 | $10.38 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,900 | $14.37 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $51,360 | $24.69 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,070 | $17.34 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Ames, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-9031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop make in Ames, IA?
The median salary for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in the Ames, IA metro area is $28,480 a year, or $13.69 an hour. Pay ranges from $18,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,560 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop make in Ames, IA?
The top 10% of hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in the Ames, IA metro area earn at least $47,560 a year. The top 25% earn $30,670 or more.
What is the starting pay for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in Ames, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $18,750 a year, and a quarter of hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop earn $24,740 or less.
How many hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop work in Ames, IA?
About 140 hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop are employed in the Ames, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.