Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop Salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
In Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shops earn $27,830 at the median — $13.38 an hour. The range runs from $21K at the entry level to $39K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.06), which stretches that salary to about $31,966 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,051/month — about 53.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $28K get you in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Waterloo-Cedar Falls’s Regional Price Parity (87.06). 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.
About hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shops
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Entry-level hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shops (10th percentile) start around $21K. Mid-career wages sit at $28K. Top earners bring in $39K or more, a $18K 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 |
| New Jersey | $34K | +13% | 7,940 |
| Oregon | $34K | +13% | 4,450 |
| 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
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Waterloo-Cedar Falls numbers change.
Related careers in Food Service
Frequently asked questions
How much do hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shops make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median is $27,830 a year, that works out to about $13 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $21,010, and experienced hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shops can clear $38,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $28K enough to live in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,933/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,051/month, which eats 54.4% 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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
Waterloo-Cedar Falls has a Regional Price Parity of 87.06 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop salary is worth about $31,966 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.