Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Median annual salary $31,360 +3.2% vs national
Median hourly $15.08
10th percentile $29,120
90th percentile $46,870
Employed locally 9,960
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
    $29,120
    25th
    $29,430
    50th (median)
    $31,360
    75th
    $38,020
    90th
    $46,870

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary vs area income 35% Median Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary is 65% 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
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $46,250
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $35,810
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $35,780
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $35,340
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $34,800
    Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $33,310

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $33,020
    Waiters and Waitresses $29,120
    Cooks, Restaurant $37,090
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $40,880
    Bartenders $29,120
    Food Preparation Workers $35,020

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in Chicago, IL-IN is $15.08, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.76 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago 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 Chicago, IL-IN is 3.2% 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 Chicago?

    Entry-level Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop (10th percentile) earn around $29,120 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,430.