What Does a Restaurant Host Do? Duties, Pay & Outlook

What does a restaurant host do?

Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge and coffee shop, welcome patrons, seat them at tables and manage reservations and waitlists. The median pay is $31,200 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about A few days on the job, and employment is projected to grow +3.4% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

Median pay
$31,200
$15.00/hour · May 2025
Job growth
+3.4%
2025–35, about as fast as average
Openings per year
107,100
Average, 2025–35
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
BLS classification
Time to train
A few days on the job
Typical program length
U.S. jobs
444,200
Employment, 2025

What restaurant hosts do

Hosts set the first impression. They greet guests, manage reservations and waitlists, seat tables to balance servers, answer phones, handle takeout and keep the entrance tidy.

No formal education is required, and training is short. BLS projects about average growth.

Typical duties

Greet guests
Manage reservations
Run the waitlist
Seat tables
Balance server sections
Answer phones
Handle takeout

Work environment and schedule

Hosts work at restaurant entrances.

Schedule: Evenings, weekends and holidays.

A day in the life

4:00 PMReview reservations.
4:30 PMPlan the seating chart.
5:00 PMGreet early diners.
6:30 PMManage a 30-minute wait.

See a full day in the life of a restaurant host →

Restaurant Host salary

Half of restaurant hosts earned more than $31,200 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $22,340 for the lowest 10% to $43,990 for the top 10%.

$22,34010th$31,200Median$43,99090th

Full restaurant host pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a restaurant host

Apply
Learn the floor plan
Learn the reservation system
Handle busy nights
Advance

No formal educational credential is required.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a restaurant host →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

Reservation systems
Waitlist management
Seating rotation
Phone etiquette
Takeout handling

People skills

Friendliness
Calm
Organization
Communication

All restaurant host skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

Friendly work
Short training
Entry to hospitality
Flexible schedules

Cons

Low pay
Upset waiting guests
Standing
Busy weekends

Certifications and licenses

Hospitality training: Helpful.
Food handler card: Sometimes required.
Customer service training: Helpful.
Alcohol awareness: Helpful.

Career path

Host: Entry.
Lead Host: Lead.
Server: Serve.
Floor Manager: Manage.

Learn the job before day one

Our Restaurant Host training (6 hours, $59.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as quote an honest wait time and balance servers with seating rotation, safety and how to land your first job.

View Restaurant Host training Is this career right for me?

Server

Take orders, serve food and drinks and make every meal a good experience.

$35,230
1–2 weeks

Busser

Clear and reset tables so restaurants run smoothly.

$33,980
A few days on the job

Restaurant Manager

Run restaurants: guests, staff, food quality, safety and profits.

$69,390
2–5 years of restaurant experience

Hotel Front Desk Agent

Welcome hotel guests, check them in and solve problems during their stay.

$35,070
1–2 weeks

Compare: Restaurant Host vs. Server · Restaurant Host vs. Busser · Restaurant Host vs. Restaurant Manager · Restaurant Host vs. Front Desk Agent

Restaurant Host FAQ

Do hosts get tips?

Some get a tip share.

Do I need experience?

No.

Is it a path to server?

Yes.

How much does a restaurant host make?

The median annual wage for restaurant hosts was $31,200 ($15.00 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $22,340 and the highest 10% earned more than $43,990.

How long does it take to become a restaurant host?

Most people need about A few days on the job of training. No formal educational credential is required.

Do you need a degree to be a restaurant host?

No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “no formal educational credential” as the typical entry-level education, plus short-term on-the-job training.

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 35-9031 (Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
O*NET OnLine summary for Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop (U.S. Department of Labor).
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

Restaurant Host