Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn a median of $28,190 a year ($13.55 an hour), based on BLS data for 140 workers.
Pay ranges from $18,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,450 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $31,200. Pay here is about the same as the Iowa statewide median of $28,210. There are 1.7 hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.62). The average (mean) salary is $30,950, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,330 | $8.81 |
| 25th percentile | $25,110 | $12.07 |
| Median | $28,190 | $13.55 |
| 75th percentile | $31,300 | $15.05 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,450 | $22.33 |
| Average (mean) | $30,950 | $14.88 |
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 | $2,349.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,174.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,084.23 |
| Weekly | $542.12 |
| Hourly | $13.55 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $28,190 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 |
| Ames, IA | $28,480 | 140 |
| Dubuque, IA | $28,340 | 90 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $28,270 | 850 |
| 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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,930 | $13.91 |
| Dishwasher | $28,890 | $13.89 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,820 | $13.38 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $21,490 | $10.33 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,420 | $17.03 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,180 | $18.36 |
| Bartender | $21,540 | $10.36 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,680 | $17.16 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $28,140 | $13.53 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,050 | $15.41 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $44,610 | $21.45 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $33,520 | $16.12 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, 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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median salary for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area is $28,190 a year, or $13.55 an hour. Pay ranges from $18,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The top 10% of hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn at least $46,450 a year. The top 25% earn $31,300 or more.
What is the starting pay for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $18,330 a year, and a quarter of hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop earn $25,110 or less.
How many hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop work in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
About 140 hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop are employed in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.