SOC 35-9031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — Kentucky
Kentucky · 6 metro areas compared
The median wage for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in Kentucky is $27,100 per year, 13.1% below the national median of $31,200.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in Kentucky is $27,100 per year, 13.1% below the national median of $31,200. Half of workers earn between $22,520 and $29,550. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $19,150 and the ninetieth at $35,300.
Employment stands at 5,120, or 2.6 jobs per thousand held locally. Kentucky ranks number 41st out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Lexington records the highest median at $27,920. Of the 699 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 694th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $19,150 | −38.6% |
| 25th | $22,520 | −27.8% |
| Median (50th) | $27,100 | −13.1% |
| 75th | $29,550 | −5.3% |
| 90th | $35,300 | +13.1% |
| Mean | $26,900 | −13.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Kentucky
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexington | $27,920 | 910 | |
| 2 | Louisville/Jefferson County | $27,590 | 1,990 | |
| 3 | Paducah | $26,440 | 190 | |
| 4 | Elizabethtown | $25,370 | 140 | |
| 5 | Bowling Green | $24,500 | 280 | |
| 6 | Owensboro | $24,050 | 150 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Kentucky run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $27,100 goes as far as $30,044 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$27,100as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$30,044US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $27,100 a year, 13.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $19,150 to $35,300 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 5,120 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 41st of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Lexington, at $27,920.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in Kentucky?
The median annual wage is $27,100, or $13.03 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $31,200, so pay in Kentucky is 13.1% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Kentucky earns more than $35,300 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $19,150 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Lexington, at $27,920 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 5,120 jobs in this occupation in Kentucky. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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