Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop Salary in San Diego, CA

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in San Diego, CA have a median annual salary of $36,140, with 4,720 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $35,000 at the 10th percentile to $45,160 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

$36,140

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$17.38

Employment

4,720

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$35,000
10th
$35,360
25th
$36,140
Median
$39,220
75th
$45,160
90th

Local compared with national

San Diego, CA

$36,140

Median annual · 2025

United States

$31,200

Median annual · 2025

The San Diego, CA median is 15.8% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $4,940).

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 San Diego, CA