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Server and hostess salary
Average server and hostess salary
$13.47
Understanding Server and Hostess Salaries
The average salary for a server and hostess is approximately $28,020 per year, or $13 an hour. Earnings can vary widely depending on factors like geographic location, years of experience, and the type of establishment. For instance, urban areas often offer higher pay due to a higher cost of living and increased demand for skilled service staff.
Salary Variations by State
States like California and New York lead in offering the highest salaries for this role. In contrast, states with a lower cost of living, such as Arkansas, may provide lower average wages. Understanding these regional differences is crucial for candidates seeking optimal job opportunities.
Top Cities for Earnings
- New York, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
These cities not only have a high demand for servers and hostesses but also feature a variety of dining establishments ranging from casual to upscale, which can significantly impact earning potential.
Career Growth
For those looking to advance in the hospitality field, positions such as restaurant manager or event coordinator can lead to better salaries and career satisfaction. Continuous development of skills and gaining experience are key to achieving higher pay in this competitive industry.
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Where can a Server And Hostess earn more?
Average server and hostess salary by state
The average server and hostess salary in New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average server and hostess salary states are North Carolina, Mississippi, and Alabama.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for server and hostesses
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $30,418 | $14.62 |
| 2 | New York | $37,082 | $17.83 |
| 3 | West Virginia | $28,290 | $13.60 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $34,782 | $16.72 |
| 5 | Colorado | $27,600 | $13.27 |
| 6 | Maine | $30,057 | $14.45 |
| 7 | Michigan | $27,531 | $13.24 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $27,290 | $13.12 |
| 9 | Vermont | $34,429 | $16.55 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $38,508 | $18.51 |
| 11 | California | $31,972 | $15.37 |
| 12 | Washington | $31,828 | $15.30 |
| 13 | Maryland | $29,065 | $13.97 |
| 14 | Oregon | $29,928 | $14.39 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $30,073 | $14.46 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $27,047 | $13.00 |
| 17 | Delaware | $28,347 | $13.63 |
| 18 | Texas | $24,266 | $11.67 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $27,865 | $13.40 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $28,570 | $13.74 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $23,039 | $11.08 |
| 22 | Ohio | $23,410 | $11.25 |
| 23 | Nevada | $23,386 | $11.24 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $27,633 | $13.29 |
| 25 | Indiana | $22,751 | $10.94 |
| 26 | Illinois | $24,968 | $12.00 |
| 27 | Iowa | $23,441 | $11.27 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $24,860 | $11.95 |
| 29 | Kansas | $22,893 | $11.01 |
| 30 | Missouri | $22,607 | $10.87 |
| 31 | Virginia | $24,932 | $11.99 |
| 32 | Idaho | $23,287 | $11.20 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $23,044 | $11.08 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $21,811 | $10.49 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $22,295 | $10.72 |
| 36 | Utah | $22,852 | $10.99 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $27,568 | $13.25 |
| 38 | Florida | $21,878 | $10.52 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $21,311 | $10.25 |
| 40 | Georgia | $22,035 | $10.59 |
| 41 | Alaska | $23,721 | $11.40 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $21,907 | $10.53 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $20,968 | $10.08 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $20,915 | $10.06 |
| 45 | Alabama | $20,853 | $10.03 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $21,339 | $10.26 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $19,974 | $9.60 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $21,593 | $10.38 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $18,830 | $9.05 |
| 50 | Montana | $20,041 | $9.64 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $20,984 | $10.09 |
Highest paying cities for server and hostesses
The highest-paying cities for server and hostesses are Binghamton, NY, Boston, MA, and Modesto, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Binghamton, NY | $37,097 | $17.84 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $34,805 | $16.73 |
| 3 | Modesto, CA | $32,228 | $15.49 |
| 4 | Bangor, ME | $29,898 | $14.37 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $29,838 | $14.35 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $29,224 | $14.05 |
| 7 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $27,588 | $13.26 |
| 8 | Battle Creek, MI | $26,956 | $12.96 |
| 9 | Aurora, IL | $24,944 | $11.99 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $24,270 | $11.67 |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $23,317 | $11.21 |
| 12 | Fayetteville, AR | $23,087 | $11.10 |
| 13 | Gary, IN | $22,999 | $11.06 |
| 14 | Wichita, KS | $22,882 | $11.00 |
| 15 | Wentzville, MO | $22,668 | $10.90 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $22,021 | $10.59 |
| 17 | Winter Park, FL | $21,922 | $10.54 |
| 18 | Florence, SC | $21,453 | $10.31 |
| 19 | Jackson, MS | $20,926 | $10.06 |
| 20 | Bessemer, AL | $20,881 | $10.04 |
Server And Hostesses are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Server and hostess salary details
A server and hostess's salary ranges from $21,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $37,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a server and hostess's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| 75th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| Average | $28,020 | $2,335 | $13 |
| 25th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
| 10th Percentile | $21,000 | $1,750 | $10 |
Highest paying server and hostess jobs
The highest paying types of server and hostesses are caterer/server, line cook, and bartender server.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Runner | $25,536 | $2,128 | $12.28 | 240,853 |
| Waitstaff | $25,104 | $2,092 | $12.07 | 130,467 |
| Line Cook | $32,895 | $2,741 | $15.81 | 168,993 |
| Waitress | $24,770 | $2,064 | $11.91 | 87,315 |
| Fine Dining Server | $32,140 | $2,678 | $15.45 | 77,549 |
| Restaurant Server | $24,558 | $2,047 | $11.81 | 141,250 |
Top companies hiring server and hostesses now:
Which companies pay server and hostesses the most?
Server and hostess salaries at Blue Dolphin Energy and General Electric are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average server and hostess salary at companies like Sunrise Senior Living Management Inc and Westminster are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Dolphin Energy | $39,883 | $19.17 |
| 2 | General Electric | $37,343 | $17.95 |
| 3 | Sunrise Senior Living Management Inc | $31,828 | $15.30 |
| 4 | Westminster | $31,621 | $15.20 |
| 5 | St. Peter's Health | $31,390 | $15.09 |
| 6 | Russo | $30,616 | $14.72 |
| 7 | Fish & Richardson | $30,596 | $14.71 |
| 8 | Amherst College | $30,493 | $14.66 |
| 9 | Bozeman Health | $30,404 | $14.62 |
| 10 | Washington Regional Medical Center | $29,256 | $14.07 |
| 11 | Sodexo Management, Inc. | $28,896 | $13.89 |
| 12 | ManpowerGroup | $28,716 | $13.81 |
| 13 | Real Food Works | $28,278 | $13.60 |
| 14 | NYU Lutheran Medical Center | $28,207 | $13.56 |
| 15 | Regal Cinemas Corp | $27,987 | $13.46 |
| 16 | Regional Medical Center- Orangeburg | $27,912 | $13.42 |
| 17 | TravelCenters of America | $27,815 | $13.37 |
| 18 | Five Star Service Group Inc | $27,717 | $13.33 |
| 19 | PeopleReady | $27,694 | $13.31 |
| 20 | Thera Trust | $27,429 | $13.19 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Server and hostess salary trends
The average server and hostess salary has risen by $6,102 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average server and hostess earned $21,918 annually, but today, they earn $28,020 a year. That works out to a 19% change in pay for server and hostesses over the last decade.
Compare server and hostess salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average server and hostess salary over time
Compare server and hostess salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Server and hostess salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $28,000 | $13.47 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $27,000 | $12.99 | +4.8% |
| 2023 | $25,700 | $12.36 | +4.4% |
| 2022 | $24,600 | $11.81 | +4.0% |
| 2021 | $23,600 | $11.34 | +3.7% |
Recently added server and hostess salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travelcenters of America | Server/Cashier | Laurel, MT | 06/28/2025 | $22,018 |
| Pinnacle Charter School | Kitchen Cashier-Server) | Boone, CO | 06/28/2025 | $33,580 |
| Dupage County Roe | Cashier-Server | Kane, IL | 06/27/2025 | $34,602 |
| Travelcenters of America | Server/Cashier | York, NE | 06/25/2025 | $28,175 |
| Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 | Cashier-Server | Kane, IL | 06/25/2025 | $34,602 |
| Travelcenters of America | Server/Cashier | Cuba, MO | 06/20/2025 | $14,338 |
| Life Care Services | Marketplace Server/Cashier | Columbia, MD | 06/18/2025 | $31,305 |
| LCS Senior Living | Marketplace Server/Cashier | Columbia, MD | 06/18/2025 | $31,305 |
| Freedom Pointe at The Villages | Marketplace Server/Cashier | Columbia, MD | 06/17/2025 | $31,305 |
| Bordertown/Indigo Sky Casinos | Sky Grill Cashier/Server | Wyandotte, OK | 06/17/2025 | $24,418 |
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