Research Summary. In 2026, the Zippia data science team conducted extensive research to uncover the latest details on hostess salaries across the United States:
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Maine boasts the highest average hostess salary at $27,479.
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Alaska ranks lowest with an average salary of $23,589.
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The national average salary for hostesses is $26,298.
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National hourly pay for hostesses stands at $12.64.
You can read more on the specific methodology.
Background
Salary remains a key factor for job seekers in every demographic, with many individuals asking: how much do hostesses earn in my area?
While personal circumstances will affect individual earnings, comprehensive data exists on average hostess salaries by state, segmented by seniority level. These averages provide a useful benchmark, even if local salaries may vary somewhat.
According to the latest data, the state offering the best salary for hostesses is Maine.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for hostess salaries:
Let’s take a closer look at the complete ranking of states based on hostess salaries.
Highest-Paid Hostesses By State
| Rank | State | Average Hostess Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $27,479 | $22,000 | $32,000 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $27,461 | $22,000 | $33,000 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $27,444 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 4 | Vermont | $27,381 | $22,000 | $33,000 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $27,285 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 6 | Hawaii | $27,269 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $26,976 | $20,000 | $34,000 |
| 8 | New York | $26,445 | $20,000 | $34,000 |
| 9 | California | $26,201 | $19,000 | $35,000 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $26,184 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $25,672 | $19,000 | $33,000 |
| 12 | Nevada | $25,473 | $18,000 | $34,000 |
| 13 | Delaware | $25,393 | $19,000 | $33,000 |
| 14 | Arizona | $25,318 | $18,000 | $34,000 |
| 15 | Michigan | $25,024 | $19,000 | $32,000 |
| 16 | Maryland | $24,939 | $19,000 | $32,000 |
| 17 | Oregon | $24,915 | $18,000 | $33,000 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $24,745 | $18,000 | $32,000 |
| 19 | Ohio | $24,618 | $18,000 | $32,000 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $24,617 | $18,000 | $32,000 |
| 21 | Idaho | $24,569 | $18,000 | $32,000 |
| 22 | Washington | $24,550 | $18,000 | $32,000 |
| 23 | Utah | $24,517 | $18,000 | $32,000 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $24,504 | $18,000 | $33,000 |
| 25 | Illinois | $24,492 | $18,000 | $32,000 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $24,450 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 27 | Virginia | $24,422 | $18,000 | $32,000 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $24,350 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 29 | Indiana | $24,289 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 30 | Texas | $24,253 | $17,000 | $32,000 |
| 31 | Iowa | $24,245 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 32 | Montana | $24,222 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $24,204 | $18,000 | $32,000 |
| 34 | Colorado | $24,193 | $18,000 | $32,000 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $24,177 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $24,160 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 37 | Kansas | $24,120 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $24,110 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 39 | Missouri | $24,076 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $24,040 | $18,000 | $32,000 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $24,039 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $24,020 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 43 | Alabama | $24,015 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $24,015 | $17,000 | $32,000 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $23,993 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $23,975 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 47 | Georgia | $23,923 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $23,912 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 49 | Florida | $23,876 | $17,000 | $32,000 |
| 50 | Alaska | $23,589 | $20,000 | $26,000 |
Methodology: Hostess Salary By State
To accurately assess hostess pay by state, Zippia has compiled data from multiple sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This data is supplemented with salary information from job postings. Our data science team calculates a weighted average to arrive at the average hostess salary for each state.
We ranked states based on the average annual salary data for hostesses, identifying the state with the highest salary as the top performer.
Hostess Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for hostesses?
The highest-paid state for hostesses is Maine, offering an average salary of $27,479 per year.
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What city pays hostesses the most?
Portland, ME, has the highest salary for hostesses at an average of $27,494 per year.
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What is the lowest-paying state for hostesses?
The lowest-paying state for hostesses is Alaska, with an average salary of $23,589 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
