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Occupation · SOC 35-9031

Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop

There are 432,690 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $31,200 a year. The most jobs are in New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ.

Food ServiceTypical education: No formal educational credential
432,690
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$31,200
Median pay a year
Middle half: $27,570–$36,250
107,100
Annual openings
10-year change: +3.4%
No formal educational credential
Typical education to enter

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 380 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $36,500 · LCA filings 018,530$36,5000
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $36,920 · LCA filings 015,340$36,9200
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $31,720 · LCA filings 013,390$31,7200
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GAMedian pay $28,560 · LCA filings 011,940$28,5600
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHMedian pay $35,140 · LCA filings 010,580$35,1400
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLMedian pay $32,280 · LCA filings 010,440$32,2800
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $28,890 · LCA filings 010,140$28,8900
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $36,360 · LCA filings 09,270$36,3600
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXMedian pay $26,730 · LCA filings 08,990$26,7300
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $32,220 · LCA filings 08,960$32,2200

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
Urban Honolulu, HIEmployment 1,740 · LCA filings 0$47,1101,7400
Kahului–Wailuku, HIEmployment 490 · LCA filings 0$45,2404900
Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro, OR–WAEmployment 3,390 · LCA filings 0$43,4103,3900
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployment 1,860 · LCA filings 0$42,4001,8600
Grants Pass, OREmployment 100 · LCA filings 0$40,8901000

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $36,629 · Level III $39,749 · Level IV $42,869$33,509$36,629$39,749$42,869
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $37,981 · Level III $40,643 · Level IV $43,306$35,318$37,981$40,643$43,306
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $32,635 · Level III $34,923 · Level IV $37,190$30,368$32,635$34,923$37,190
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GALevel II $24,045 · Level III $27,768 · Level IV $31,491$20,322$24,045$27,768$31,491
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHLevel II $33,280 · Level III $35,568 · Level IV $37,877$30,971$33,280$35,568$37,877
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLLevel II $31,658 · Level III $35,006 · Level IV $38,376$28,288$31,658$35,006$38,376
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $24,502 · Level III $28,538 · Level IV $32,552$20,488$24,502$28,538$32,552
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $34,590 · Level III $37,419 · Level IV $40,248$31,762$34,590$37,419$40,248
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXLevel II $23,130 · Level III $26,811 · Level IV $30,472$19,469$23,130$26,811$30,472
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $28,205 · Level III $31,803 · Level IV $35,381$24,627$28,205$31,803$35,381

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

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Related occupations · Food Service

Fast Food and Counter WorkersWaiters and WaitressesCooks, RestaurantFirst-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersFood Preparation WorkersBartendersDining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersCooks, Fast Food

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology