SOC 35-9031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — Massachusetts
Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area · 6 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Massachusetts, MA comes to $34,540 a year, ahead of the national median of $31,200 by 10.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Massachusetts, MA comes to $34,540 a year, ahead of the national median of $31,200 by 10.7%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $31,200 and $37,890. The lowest tenth earn under $31,200, while the highest tenth earn more than $45,720.
The area has 210 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.86 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Boston leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $35,140. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 206th of 206 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,200 | +0.0% |
| 25th | $31,200 | +0.0% |
| Median (50th) | $34,540 | +10.7% |
| 75th | $37,890 | +21.4% |
| 90th | $45,720 | +46.5% |
| Mean | $36,540 | +17.1% |
Other metro areas in Massachusetts
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston | $35,140 | 10,580 | |
| 2 | Barnstable Town | $34,870 | 680 | |
| 3 | Amherst Town | $34,250 | 210 | |
| 4 | Worcester | $33,620 | 970 | |
| 5 | Springfield | $31,250 | 620 | |
| 6 | Pittsfield | $31,210 | 230 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Massachusetts run 5.8% above the national average, so the median of $34,540 buys what $32,647 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 4.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$34,540as reported by BLSLocal price level
105.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$32,647US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $34,540 a year, 10.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,200 to $45,720 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 210 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Boston, at $35,140.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in Massachusetts, MA?
The median annual wage is $34,540, or $16.61 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 Massachusetts, MA is 10.7% higher. 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 Massachusetts, MA earns more than $45,720 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,200 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 Boston, at $35,140 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 210 jobs in this occupation in Massachusetts, MA. 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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