Host salary in 2026
Median pay, hourly rates, top-paying cities, and live host jobs from MAJC's coverage area. Numbers below combine U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics with 66 active postings. Hiring? Use the free host job description template.
Median (national)
$30,560
$14.69/hr · BLS May 2024
Top 10 percent
$42K+
$20.43/hr effective
MAJC posted median
$20
From 40 disclosed
National pay for hosts
$30,560median, full year
About $14.69/hr. Top 10 percent earn $42K+.
Of 40 MAJC postings disclosing salary in this category, median is $20. Source: actual job postings
BLS Occupation 35-9031Hosts and Hostesses, May 2024. Source
Want to see where your own paycheck sits? Use the free Am I paid fairly checker. Pick this role, your state, and what you take home.
How hosts push pay above median
- Volume + format leverage. High-cover-count concepts (200+ covers, multi-outlet hotels) pay more than small independents — same role, different scope.
- Specialized knowledge. Wine or spirits certification, specific cuisine training, or technical systems (POS, inventory) all command premiums.
- Bilingual fluency. English/Spanish in the U.S. hospitality market is consistently worth a meaningful bump.
- Tenure + leadership. "Lead" or "Head" prefixes typically signal 15–30% over an "Associate" version of the same role.
- Disclosed-salary postings. Filter MAJC for host jobs with disclosed pay — those tend to be the ones that compete on number, not vibes.
Top-paying live host jobs right now
Highest disclosed salaries across 66 active host postings.
- $19 to $35
Host
- $25 to $30
VIP Host - Nightlife New York
- $26 to $28
(PT) Center Court Host
- $28
PT - Restaurant Host / Hostess
Frequently asked
- What is the average host salary?
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics median annual pay for hosts and hostesses is $30,560 ($14.69/hr) as of May 2024. The top 10% earn $42K or more.
- How much does a host make per hour?
- BLS reports a median hourly rate of $14.69/hr for hosts and hostesses. Tipped roles (server, bartender, busser) can substantially exceed the base hourly with gratuities.
- Which cities pay hosts the most?
- Major metros (Miami, Houston, and high-tourist coastal cities) typically pay hosts 10–20% above the national median. See the city breakdown above for live disclosed rates.
- What skills increase host pay the most?
- In hospitality, the biggest pay drivers are: specialized cuisine or beverage knowledge, fluency in a second language (Spanish in the U.S.), high-volume service experience, and proven leadership of a team. POS proficiency (Toast, Tock, Resy) and inventory or P&L responsibility also push pay above median.
- How do I find a host job that pays above median?
- Filter MAJC's host listings by "Salary listed" to surface postings with disclosed pay, then sort by salary. Hotels and high-cover-count restaurants tend to disclose more often than smaller independents. Browse all 66 host listings below.