SOC 35-9031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — Mississippi
Mississippi · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in Mississippi is $21,990 per year, substantially below the national median of $31,200 — a gap of 29.5%.
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 Mississippi is $21,990 per year, substantially below the national median of $31,200 — a gap of 29.5%. Pay ranges from under $17,240 at the tenth percentile to more than $28,890 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $20,490 to $26,840.
The area has 2,660 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.82 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Mississippi ranks 51st by median wage. Gulfport leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $25,060. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 669th of 673 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $17,240 | −44.7% |
| 25th | $20,490 | −34.3% |
| Median (50th) | $21,990 | −29.5% |
| 75th | $26,840 | −14.0% |
| 90th | $28,890 | −7.4% |
| Mean | $23,510 | −24.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Mississippi
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gulfport | $25,060 | 780 | |
| 2 | Jackson | $21,990 | 490 | |
| 3 | Hattiesburg | $21,230 | 200 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Mississippi run 13.0% below the national average, so the median of $21,990 goes as far as $25,276 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 19.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$21,990as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$25,276US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $21,990 a year, 29.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $17,240 to $28,890 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,660 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 51st of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Gulfport, at $25,060.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in Mississippi?
The median annual wage is $21,990, or $10.57 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 Mississippi is 29.5% 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 Mississippi earns more than $28,890 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $17,240 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 Gulfport, at $25,060 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,660 jobs in this occupation in Mississippi. 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.
Explore related data