Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop Salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
In Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shops earn $36,130 at the median, or about $17.37 an hour. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $47K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 113.57), so that salary is closer to $31,813 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,601/month — about 104.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $36K get you in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim’s Regional Price Parity (113.57). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Entry-level hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shops (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $47K or more, a $13K spread from bottom to top.
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $43K | +42% | 2,320 |
| New York | $37K | +22% | 17,350 |
| District of Columbia | $37K | +22% | 2,320 |
| Washington | $37K | +20% | 9,770 |
| California | $36K | +18% | 42,450 |
| Maine | $35K | +16% | 1,460 |
| Alaska | $35K | +15% | 820 |
| Massachusetts | $35K | +15% | 11,280 |
| Oregon | $34K | +13% | 4,450 |
| New Jersey | $34K | +13% | 7,940 |
| Arizona | $34K | +12% | 10,860 |
| Connecticut | $34K | +11% | 4,490 |
| Vermont | $33K | +8% | 1,040 |
| Maryland | $32K | +6% | 6,450 |
| Illinois | $31K | +2% | 12,500 |
| Rhode Island | $31K | +2% | 1,400 |
| New Hampshire | $31K | +1% | 1,900 |
| Virginia | $30K | -1% | 10,440 |
| Minnesota | $30K | -2% | 7,710 |
| Nevada | $29K | -3% | 7,030 |
| South Dakota | $29K | -3% | 590 |
| Montana | $29K | -4% | 1,450 |
| Florida | $29K | -4% | 40,540 |
| Wisconsin | $29K | -5% | 5,590 |
| Utah | $29K | -5% | 4,360 |
| Iowa | $28K | -6% | 3,410 |
| Pennsylvania | $28K | -7% | 16,300 |
| Tennessee | $28K | -7% | 10,940 |
| Indiana | $28K | -7% | 9,720 |
| North Dakota | $28K | -7% | 820 |
| Georgia | $28K | -7% | 15,650 |
| Michigan | $28K | -7% | 13,180 |
| Delaware | $28K | -7% | 1,720 |
| Missouri | $28K | -8% | 9,180 |
| New Mexico | $28K | -8% | 3,320 |
| Ohio | $28K | -9% | 17,420 |
| Nebraska | $27K | -10% | 2,960 |
| Texas | $27K | -11% | 37,740 |
| Kansas | $27K | -11% | 4,580 |
| Idaho | $27K | -12% | 2,180 |
| North Carolina | $27K | -13% | 13,870 |
| South Carolina | $27K | -13% | 9,000 |
| Arkansas | $26K | -14% | 3,020 |
| Kentucky | $26K | -14% | 6,000 |
| Alabama | $25K | -18% | 4,290 |
| Wyoming | $23K | -23% | 550 |
| West Virginia | $23K | -24% | 1,490 |
| Oklahoma | $22K | -26% | 4,190 |
| Mississippi | $22K | -29% | 2,870 |
| Louisiana | $21K | -32% | 6,610 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shops make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median is $36,130 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,430, and experienced hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shops can clear $47,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,537/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,601/month, which eats 102.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop salary go in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim has a Regional Price Parity of 113.57 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop salary is worth about $31,813 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shops get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.