Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop Salary in New Orleans, LA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • New Orleans-Metairie, LA

Median annual salary $21,700 -28.6% vs national
Median hourly $10.44
10th percentile $16,250
90th percentile $31,060
Employed locally 1,920
National median $30,380

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

Type a city below to see how New Orleans, LA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
in
New Orleans, LA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $16,250
    25th
    $17,370
    50th (median)
    $21,700
    75th
    $26,790
    90th
    $31,060

    New Orleans economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $62,271 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
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $40,000
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $38,160
    Portland-South Portland, ME $36,180
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $35,780
    Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $35,540
    San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $35,330

    Related occupations in New Orleans, LA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Waiters and Waitresses $18,380
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $26,710
    Food Preparation Workers $24,150
    Cooks, Restaurant $30,570
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $38,080
    Bartenders $21,220

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in New Orleans, LA is $10.44, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $16.60 or more per hour.

    Is New Orleans 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 New Orleans, LA is 28.6% 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 New Orleans?

    Entry-level Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop (10th percentile) earn around $16,250 per year in New Orleans, LA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $17,370.