Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary in Tennessee
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in Tennessee earn a median of $27,490 a year ($13.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 11,280 workers.
Pay ranges from $20,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,770 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $31,200. Tennessee ranks 39th of 51 states for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop pay. There are 3.4 hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $27,690, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,180 | $9.70 |
| 25th percentile | $22,310 | $10.73 |
| Median | $27,490 | $13.22 |
| 75th percentile | $30,180 | $14.51 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,770 | $17.20 |
| Average (mean) | $27,690 | $13.31 |
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 | $2,290.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,145.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,057.31 |
| Weekly | $528.65 |
| Hourly | $13.22 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $27,490 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee 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 Tennessee
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson, TN | $29,300 | 280 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $28,800 | 4,110 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $27,750 | 1,060 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $27,610 | 1,670 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $27,590 | 400 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $27,250 | 310 |
| Knoxville, TN | $27,250 | 1,600 |
| Cleveland, TN | $26,130 | 140 |
| Morristown, TN | $23,600 | 130 |
| Johnson City, TN | $23,360 | 260 |
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 Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,470 | $14.17 |
| Dishwasher | $30,530 | $14.68 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,640 | $17.61 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,470 | $13.21 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $27,760 | $13.35 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $40,500 | $19.47 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,420 | $17.51 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $28,700 | $13.80 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,330 | $13.62 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,570 | $17.10 |
| Bartender | $27,480 | $13.21 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,670 | $14.75 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $69,810 | $33.56 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,210 | $14.52 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Tennessee
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 Tennessee?
The median salary for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in Tennessee is $27,490 a year, or $13.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $20,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,770 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop make in Tennessee?
The top 10% of hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in Tennessee earn at least $35,770 a year. The top 25% earn $30,180 or more.
What is the starting pay for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in Tennessee?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $20,180 a year, and a quarter of hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop earn $22,310 or less.
How many hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop work in Tennessee?
About 11,280 hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.