Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop Salary in Santa Cruz, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

Median annual salary $35,340 +16.3% vs national
Median hourly $16.99
10th percentile $33,740
90th percentile $43,760
Employed locally 320
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
    $33,740
    25th
    $34,250
    50th (median)
    $35,340
    75th
    $37,080
    90th
    $43,760

    Santa Cruz economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $109,266 2023 • Census ACS
    Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary vs area income 32% Median Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary is 68% 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
    Ithaca, NY $37,200
    Napa, CA $37,180
    Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area $36,640
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $36,630

    Related occupations in Santa Cruz, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $37,300
    Waiters and Waitresses $35,270
    Cooks, Restaurant $42,460
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $46,980
    Cooks, Fast Food $37,670
    Food Preparation Workers $37,010

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in Santa Cruz, CA is $16.99, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.39 or more per hour.

    Is Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz, CA is 16.3% 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 Santa Cruz?

    Entry-level Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop (10th percentile) earn around $33,740 per year in Santa Cruz, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $34,250.