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Food Service

Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop

Welcome patrons, seat them at tables or in lounge, and help ensure quality of facilities and service.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
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Median pay

$30,380
Median annual pay for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

-1.5%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

107,700
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

429,900
Estimated U.S. employment for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

-6,400
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

No formal educational credential
Typical additional preparation: Short-term on-the-job training.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Active Listening
  2. 2Speaking
  3. 3Monitoring
  4. 4Reading Comprehension
  5. 5Critical Thinking
  6. 6Active Learning

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Customer and Personal Service
  2. 2English Language
  3. 3Food Production
  4. 4Psychology
  5. 5Computers and Electronics
  6. 6Personnel and Human Resources

Abilities

  1. 1Oral Comprehension
  2. 2Oral Expression
  3. 3Speech Recognition
  4. 4Speech Clarity
  5. 5Deductive Reasoning
  6. 6Inductive Reasoning

Career interests

  1. 1Social
  2. 2Enterprising
  3. 3Conventional
  4. 4Realistic
  5. 5Artistic
  6. 6Investigative

Work styles

  1. 1Cooperation
  2. 2Social Orientation
  3. 3Optimism
  4. 4Dependability
  5. 5Empathy
  6. 6Self-Control

Work activities

  1. 1Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  2. 2Getting Information
  3. 3Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
  4. 4Performing General Physical Activities
  5. 5Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  6. 6Performing for or Working Directly with the Public

Work context

  1. 1Spend Time Standing
  2. 2Contact With Others
  3. 3Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  4. 4Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
  5. 5Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
  6. 6Spend Time Walking or Running

Representative 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.

Software and tools

Facebook · hot technologyMicrosoft Excel · hot technologyMicrosoft Office software · hot technologyMicrosoft Windows · hot technologyAvenista Table ReservationsGuestBridge ReserveHospitality Control Solutions Aloha Point-of-SaleiMagic Restaurant ReservationOpenTableReservation software

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

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