Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop pay range in Salinas
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,460 a year or less, while the top 10% make $49,170 or more. The middle half of hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in Salinas earn between $35,290 and $42,440.
- $34K10th
- $35K25th
- $36KMedian
- $42K75th
- $49K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,940 | $3,328 | $19.20 |
| Median | $36,380 | $3,032 | $17.49 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,290 | $2,941 | $16.97 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $42,440 | $3,537 | $20.40 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop pay in Salinas vs. California and the U.S.
Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in Salinas earn about the same as the California average ($39,900) and 22% more than the U.S. average ($32,690). At the median the gap is +17% against the U.S. median of $31,200.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas | $39,940 | $36,380 | $34,460 | $49,170 | 610 |
| California | $39,900 | $36,640 | $34,360 | $46,060 | 41,100 |
| United States | $32,690 | $31,200 | $22,340 | $43,990 | 432,690 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary after taxes in Salinas
On the average salary of $39,940, a single filer in Salinas takes home about $33,538 a year, or $2,795 a month and $1,290 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Salinas a good place for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salinas area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.0), so the average $39,940 buys what about $36,628 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Salinas ($47,380). A typical home costs $850,461, or 21.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary in other California cities
Salinas ranks 5th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($44,080).
- San Jose$44,080
- San Francisco$42,510
- Napa$42,060
- Los Angeles$40,680
- Salinas$39,940
- Santa Rosa$39,560
- San Diego$39,060
- Vallejo$38,860
- Sacramento$38,580
- Santa Cruz$38,120
All Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($47,650).
- Kahului, HI$47,650
- Honolulu, HI$44,820
- Portland, OR$44,390
- San Jose, CA$44,080
- Seattle, WA$43,620
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary by city
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Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary in Salinas: questions
How much do hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop make an hour in Salinas?
$19.20 an hour on average, and $17.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop salary in Salinas?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,460 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,290, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop take-home pay in Salinas?
About $33,538 a year ($2,795 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,940. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop earn more in Salinas than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% more than the U.S. average for this job ($32,690).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-9031; area Salinas, CA (41500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.18, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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