Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop Salary in North Carolina
Restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop hosts and hostesses in North Carolina earned a median of $28,320 a year ($13.62 an hour) and a mean of $28,120 in May 2025. The median is 9.2% below the U.S. median of $31,200, ranking 34th of 54 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $28,320
- Median hourly
- $13.62
- Mean annual
- $28,120
- Jobs on record
- 15,160
Grey needle: U.S. median, $31,200 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does North Carolina compare on pay for restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop hosts and hostesses?
North Carolina ranks 34th of 54 states and territories. Hawaii is highest at $47,070, $18,750 more than the North Carolina median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | 32 | $28,480 | -9% | 2,670 |
| Nebraska | 33 | $28,450 | -9% | 2,830 |
| North Carolina | 34 | $28,320 | -9% | 15,160 |
| Iowa | 35 | $28,210 | -10% | 2,630 |
| Kansas | 36 | $28,110 | -10% | 4,540 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 54 states and territories with a published figure. See every state.
Does North Carolina pay go further after prices?
Prices in North Carolina run 5.7% below the U.S. average, so the $28,320 median buys about what $30,024 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $31,200 U.S. median. On this measure North Carolina ranks 33rd of 51, the same place it holds before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in North Carolina pay restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop hosts and hostesses the most?
Asheville, NC is highest at $30,090, 6.3% above the North Carolina median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NC | $30,090 | 600 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $29,550 | 4,470 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $29,440 | 730 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $29,150 | 2,460 |
| Wilmington, NC | $28,250 | 1,070 |
| Greenville, NC | $27,630 | 300 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $27,480 | 210 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $27,460 | 980 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $27,250 | 840 |
| Burlington, NC | $27,170 | 240 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $27,110 | 390 |
| Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $26,900 | 980 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $26,660 | 400 |
| Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $26,370 | 440 |
| Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $26,370 | 820 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $26,330 | 120 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $25,990 | 110 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $23,560 | 290 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in North Carolina is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop hosts and hostesses work in North Carolina?
BLS counts 15,160 jobs in North Carolina, 3.5% of the 432,690 in the U.S. That is the 9th largest count among the 53 states and territories with a published figure. That is 3.1 of every 1,000 jobs in North Carolina, a location quotient of 1.10: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.10 times its national share, so it is more concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
How does the North Carolina minimum wage compare with pay for restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop hosts and hostesses?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop hosts and hostesses in North Carolina was $9.18 in May 2025, $1.93 above the $7.25 minimum wage that applies there now. The pay figure dates from May 2025 and the minimum wage is the current rate, so the two are not from the same date.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated 2026-11-05; BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, 10th-percentile hourly wage.
Related jobs in North Carolina
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.