Wages vary by employer and area of the country. Wages also vary by the amount of tips hosts receive. In some restaurants, hosts do not receive tips. In other restaurants, the waiters and waitresses put some of their tips into a tip pool. This money is divided among all restaurant staff at the end of the shift. Restaurant hosts who receive tips usually are paid less per hour by their employer.
Restaurant hosts who work full time may receive benefits. Typical benefits include sick leave, paid vacation, and health insurance.
Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop (SOC 35-9031)
| Location |
Pay Period | |
||
| 25% |
Median |
75% |
||
| Illinois | Hourly | $12.86 | $14.02 | $16.12 |
| Yearly | $26,743 | $29,150 | $33,529 | |
| Champaign Area | Hourly | $12.54 | $13.11 | $14.42 |
| Yearly | $26,088 | $27,268 | $30,006 | |
| Cook County | Hourly | $13.27 | $14.20 | $17.19 |
| Yearly | $27,607 | $29,555 | $35,760 | |
| Decatur Area | Hourly | $12.61 | $13.52 | $14.16 |
| Yearly | $26,226 | $28,141 | $29,459 | |
| Dekalb-Elgin-Aurora Area | Hourly | $13.43 | $14.27 | $16.84 |
| Yearly | $27,927 | $29,680 | $35,024 | |
| Edwardsville Area | Hourly | $12.54 | $13.08 | $14.37 |
| Yearly | $26,088 | $27,197 | $29,882 | |
| Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area | Hourly | $12.68 | $13.39 | $14.24 |
| Yearly | $26,361 | $27,859 | $29,606 | |
| Lake County | Hourly | $13.44 | $14.48 | $17.19 |
| Yearly | $27,960 | $30,107 | $35,760 | |
| Northwest Illinois Area | Hourly | $12.54 | $12.54 | $13.97 |
| Yearly | $26,088 | $26,088 | $29,070 | |
| Peoria-Bloomington Area | Hourly | $12.54 | $13.43 | $14.08 |
| Yearly | $26,088 | $27,934 | $29,291 | |
| Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area | Hourly | $12.54 | $13.37 | $14.38 |
| Yearly | $26,088 | $27,814 | $29,912 | |
| Rock Island-Moline Area | Hourly | $12.54 | $12.61 | $13.85 |
| Yearly | $26,088 | $26,227 | $28,800 | |
| Rockford Area | Hourly | $12.54 | $13.60 | $14.38 |
| Yearly | $26,088 | $28,277 | $29,919 | |
| Springfield Area | Hourly | $12.54 | $13.44 | $14.46 |
| Yearly | $26,088 | $27,949 | $30,060 | |
| St. Louis-Belleville Area | Hourly | $12.54 | $13.17 | $14.48 |
| Yearly | $26,088 | $27,398 | $30,108 | |
| United States | Hourly | $10.88 | $13.33 | $15.05 |
| Yearly | $22,630 | $27,720 | $31,300 | |