How to become a hosts and hostess, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
Welcome patrons, seat them at tables or in lounge, and help ensure quality of facilities and service.
Steps to get there
Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
What hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop do
- Provide guests with menus.
- Supervise and coordinate activities of dining room staff to ensure that patrons receive prompt and courteous service.
- Answer telephone calls and respond to inquiries or transfer calls.
- Inspect restrooms for cleanliness and availability of supplies, and clean restrooms when necessary.
- Take and prepare to-go orders.
- Inform patrons of establishment specialties and features.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
Is hosts and hostess, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop a good career?
On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 39% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.
Where it pays most
- Hawaii $47,070
- Oregon $40,720
- District of Columbia $37,570
- Washington $37,270
- Maine $36,800
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary by state and city
Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.