Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop Salary in Buffalo, NY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY

Median annual salary $35,260 +16.1% vs national
Median hourly $16.95
10th percentile $31,200
90th percentile $45,740
Employed locally 1,370
National median $30,380

Compare Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary & buying power

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Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,200
    25th
    $31,400
    50th (median)
    $35,260
    75th
    $38,160
    90th
    $45,740

    Buffalo economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $70,572 2023 • Census ACS
    Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary vs area income 50% Median Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary is 50% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $46,250
    Hawaii $43,070
    Urban Honolulu, HI $42,070
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $40,150
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $40,000
    Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $38,280

    Nearby metros — Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $40,000
    Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $38,280
    Kingston, NY $37,740
    Ithaca, NY $37,200
    Glens Falls, NY $37,030
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $36,780

    Related occupations in Buffalo, NY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$34,240
    Waiters and Waitresses$46,820
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$42,290
    Cooks, Restaurant$37,700
    Bartenders$49,950
    Food Preparation Workers$34,270

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop make per hour in Buffalo?

    The median hourly wage for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in Buffalo, NY is $16.95, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.11 or more per hour.

    Is Buffalo above or below average for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salaries?

    The median Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary in Buffalo, NY is 16.1% above the national median of $30,380. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in Buffalo?

    Entry-level Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop (10th percentile) earn around $31,200 per year in Buffalo, NY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $31,400.