Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop Salary in Waterloo, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA

Median annual salary $27,830 -8.4% vs national
Median hourly $13.38
10th percentile $21,010
90th percentile $38,680
Employed locally 200
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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Waterloo, IA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $21,010
    25th
    $23,500
    50th (median)
    $27,830
    75th
    $30,490
    90th
    $38,680

    Waterloo economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $68,916 2023 • Census ACS
    Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary vs area income 40% Median Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary is 60% 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
    District of Columbia $36,950
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $36,810
    California $35,910
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $35,850
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $35,790
    North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $35,720

    Related occupations in Waterloo, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,080
    Waiters and Waitresses $25,470
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,170
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,680
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $34,410
    Bartenders $22,000

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in Waterloo, IA is $13.38, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.33 or more per hour.

    Is Waterloo 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 Waterloo, IA is 8.4% 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 Waterloo?

    Entry-level Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop (10th percentile) earn around $21,010 per year in Waterloo, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $23,500.