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Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop Salary in Ames, IA

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in Ames, IA have a median annual salary of $28,480, with 140 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $18,750 at the 10th percentile to $47,560 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$28,480

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$13.69

Employment

140

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$18,750
10th
$24,740
25th
$28,480
Median
$30,670
75th
$47,560
90th

Local compared with national

Ames, IA

$28,480

Median annual · 2025

United States

$31,200

Median annual · 2025

The Ames, IA median is 8.7% below the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $2,720).

Top skills

  1. 1.Active ListeningImportance 3.5
  2. 2.SpeakingImportance 3.1
  3. 3.Service OrientationImportance 3.1
  4. 4.Social PerceptivenessImportance 3.0
  5. 5.Reading ComprehensionImportance 2.9
  6. 6.MonitoringImportance 2.9
  7. 7.CoordinationImportance 2.9
  8. 8.Critical ThinkingImportance 2.8
  9. 9.Active LearningImportance 2.6
  10. 10.PersuasionImportance 2.6
  11. 11.NegotiationImportance 2.6
  12. 12.Time ManagementImportance 2.6

Career information

Education and experience

Typical education
Less than a High School Diploma
Experience
None
Job zone
2

Technology used

  • Avenista Table Reservations
  • Facebook
  • GuestBridge Reserve
  • Hospitality Control Solutions Aloha Point-of-Sale
  • iMagic Restaurant Reservation
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Windows
  • OpenTable
  • Reservation software

Common tasks

  • Provide guests with menus.
  • Greet guests and seat them at tables or in waiting areas.
  • Maintain contact with kitchen staff, management, serving staff, and customers to ensure that dining details are handled properly and customers' concerns are addressed.
  • Assign patrons to tables suitable for their needs and according to rotation so that servers receive an appropriate number of seatings.
  • Speak with patrons to ensure satisfaction with food and service, to respond to complaints, or to make conversation.
  • Inspect dining and serving areas to ensure cleanliness and proper setup.
  • Supervise and coordinate activities of dining room staff to ensure that patrons receive prompt and courteous service.
  • Answer telephone calls and respond to inquiries or transfer calls.
  • Assist other restaurant workers by serving food and beverages, or by bussing tables.
  • Inspect restrooms for cleanliness and availability of supplies, and clean restrooms when necessary.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary in other locations

Other occupations in Ames, IA