How Much Part Time Restaurant Hostesses Earn?

A restaurant hostess is a female employee who greets customers at the door, seats them and takes care of their basic needs, such as bringing them ice water and silverware before a waiter or waitress arrives. Common jobs for students and those looking for part-time income, hostesses are usually paid an hourly wage. Depending on the restaurant, some hostesses are also paid a percentage of tips earned by servers during their shifts.

1. Job Requirements

   • In most restaurants a hostess is commonly required to dress professionally. In others she must wear company uniforms, such as shirts bearing the restaurant logo and coordinating dresses and slacks. Casual dress is also acceptable in some establishments. Candidates must possess strong customer service skills and greet customers in a friendly and professional manner. A high school diploma or GED is also a common requirement.

   Bars Serving Food

   • In some cities bars employ hostesses to seat their patrons, which is common at themed bars, upscale drinking establishments and bars that serve food. As of 2010, the average hourly wage for hostesses employed at bars was between $9.60 and $9.74 per hour, not including tips.

   Full-service Restaurants

   • Full-service restaurants are commonly categorized as those that feature food as their main product. These are establishments with lunch and dinner fare and a full wait staff. Hostesses employed in full-service restaurants, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), earn approximately $9.30 an hour. For part-time employees, the average hourly wage equates to approximately $10,000 per year for a standard part-time work week consisting of 20 hours.

   Top Paying U.S. Markets

   • In larger U.S. markets restaurant hostesses, even part-time employees, are paid slightly more than those working in small to mid-size areas. In cities such as New York City, Philadelphia, Boston and Los Angeles, a part-time hostess working approximately 20 hours per week should expect to earn an average wage of between $11 and $13 per hour. Annual part-time salaries, depending on hours and tips, as of 2010, were approximately $11,400 and $13,500.

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