Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop Salary in California
As of May 2025, the median annual wage for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in California was $36,640 +17.4% vs national
California vs United States
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $36,640 | $31,200 |
| Median hourly | $17.62 | $15.00 |
| Employment | 41,100 | 432,690 |
| Location quotient | 0.81 | 1.00 |
Data source: BLS OES state file (California) · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025
What the data says
For career planning: entry-level pay (10th percentile) is about $34,360, median pay is $36,640, and experienced pay (90th percentile) reaches $46,060.
Employment density in California is 0.81x the national average — a below-average concentration of these roles in the local economy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop salary in California?
The median annual wage in California is $36,640 ($17.62 per hour), per BLS OES May 2025 data.
How does California compare to the national average for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop?
The California median of $36,640 is 17.4% higher than the U.S. median of $31,200.
How many hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop work in California?
Approximately 41,100 are employed in California, per BLS OES.