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The differences between hostesses and waitstaffs can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a hostess has an average salary of $26,298, which is higher than the $25,104 average annual salary of a waitstaff.
The top three skills for a hostess include reservations, exceptional guest and seat guests. The most important skills for a waitstaff are food service, beverage orders, and culinary.
| Hostess | Waitstaff | |
| Yearly salary | $26,298 | $25,104 |
| Hourly rate | $12.64 | $12.07 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 82,629 | 130,467 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 23 | 28 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Hostesses are responsible for managing guests who come to the restaurant. They greet guests, ensure that the guests have tables ready before letting them into the restaurant floor, guide the guests to their assigned tables, and introduce the guests to the waiter assigned to the table. Hostesses also manage the reservation list, often manning the restaurant's reservation hotline. They also control the entry of guests, answer any query that guests may have, and take note of any special requests. Hostesses ensure that guests have the best possible restaurant experience.
The waitstaff takes responsibility for tasks like recommending dishes based on the tastes and preferences of guests, accepting payments, and taking orders. Waitstaff delivers food to tables, ensures outstanding guest experience, and accepts payments. They work with diligence to get outstanding service quality and work with the other staff. It is part of their job to show customers their seats and provide menu options. They attend to tables for food service and guarantee cleanliness standard compliance.
Hostesses and waitstaffs have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Hostess | Waitstaff | |
| Average salary | $26,298 | $25,104 |
| Salary range | Between $20,000 And $34,000 | Between $19,000 And $32,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, ME | Falmouth, MA |
| Highest paying state | Maine | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | V-Soft Consulting | Mayo Clinic |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a hostess and a waitstaff in terms of educational background:
| Hostess | Waitstaff | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between hostesses' and waitstaffs' demographics:
| Hostess | Waitstaff | |
| Average age | 23 | 28 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 14.1% Female, 85.9% | Male, 27.3% Female, 72.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 6.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 5.8% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 8.4% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 6% |