Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary in California
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in California earn a median of $36,640 a year ($17.62 an hour), based on BLS data for 41,100 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,060 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $31,200. California ranks 6th of 51 states for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop pay. There are 2.3 hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $39,900, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,360 | $16.52 |
| 25th percentile | $35,200 | $16.92 |
| Median | $36,640 | $17.62 |
| 75th percentile | $42,860 | $20.61 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,060 | $22.14 |
| Average (mean) | $39,900 | $19.18 |
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 | $3,053.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,526.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,409.23 |
| Weekly | $704.62 |
| Hourly | $17.62 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $36,640 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $42,400 | 1,860 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $39,810 | 4,090 |
| Napa, CA | $38,200 | 490 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $37,720 | 650 |
| Vallejo, CA | $37,520 | 280 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $36,920 | 15,340 |
| Salinas, CA | $36,380 | 610 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $36,140 | 4,720 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $36,050 | 280 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $35,620 | 700 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $35,380 | 570 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $35,370 | 930 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $35,330 | 2,300 |
| Chico, CA | $35,170 | 190 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $35,070 | 480 |
| Redding, CA | $35,050 | 160 |
| Modesto, CA | $35,030 | 420 |
| Yuba City, CA | $34,880 | 120 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $34,830 | 4,330 |
| Merced, CA | $34,690 | 110 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $34,660 | 490 |
| Visalia, CA | $34,510 | 210 |
| El Centro, CA | $34,320 | 100 |
| Fresno, CA | $34,320 | 790 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $34,320 | 50 |
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.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,010 | $17.31 |
| Dishwasher | $37,870 | $18.21 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,910 | $17.75 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $42,280 | $20.33 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,980 | $22.59 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $42,050 | $20.21 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,350 | $18.92 |
| Bartender | $36,220 | $17.41 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $39,010 | $18.75 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,500 | $31.01 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,390 | $22.31 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,930 | $20.64 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in California is $36,640 a year, or $17.62 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop make in California?
The top 10% of hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in California earn at least $46,060 a year. The top 25% earn $42,860 or more.
What is the starting pay for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,360 a year, and a quarter of hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop earn $35,200 or less.
How many hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop work in California?
About 41,100 hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.