Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop Salary in Charleston, SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Charleston-North Charleston, SC

Median annual salary $27,760 -8.6% vs national
Median hourly $13.34
10th percentile $19,170
90th percentile $37,660
Employed locally 2,010
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
in
Charleston, SC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $19,170
    25th
    $22,690
    50th (median)
    $27,760
    75th
    $31,410
    90th
    $37,660

    Charleston economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $82,272 2023 • Census ACS
    Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary vs area income 34% Median Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary is 66% 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $38,160
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $35,250
    Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ $34,110
    Wisconsin $28,800
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $28,570
    Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC $28,480

    Related occupations in Charleston, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,450
    Waiters and Waitresses $18,890
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,630
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $44,010
    Bartenders $18,710
    Food Preparation Workers $33,730

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in Charleston, SC is $13.34, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.83 or more per hour.

    Is Charleston 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 Charleston, SC is 8.6% below 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 Charleston?

    Entry-level Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop (10th percentile) earn around $19,170 per year in Charleston, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $22,690.