Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop pay range in Waterloo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,330 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,450 or more. The middle half of hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in Waterloo earn between $25,110 and $31,300.
- $18K10th
- $25K25th
- $28KMedian
- $31K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $30,950 | $2,579 | $14.88 |
| Median | $28,190 | $2,349 | $13.55 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $25,110 | $2,092 | $12.07 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $31,300 | $2,608 | $15.05 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop pay in Waterloo vs. Iowa and the U.S.
Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in Waterloo earn about the same as the Iowa average ($30,690) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($32,690). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $31,200.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo | $30,950 | $28,190 | $18,330 | $46,450 | 140 |
| Iowa | $30,690 | $28,210 | $21,880 | $40,550 | 2,630 |
| United States | $32,690 | $31,200 | $22,340 | $43,990 | 432,690 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary after taxes in Waterloo
On the average salary of $30,950, a single filer in Waterloo takes home about $26,484 a year, or $2,207 a month and $1,019 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Is Waterloo a good place for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Waterloo area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.1), so the average $30,950 buys what about $35,551 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Waterloo ($47,430). A typical home costs $200,191, or 6.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary in other Iowa cities
Waterloo ranks 3rd of 8 Iowa metro areas for this job; Sioux City pays the most ($31,380).
- Sioux City$31,380
- Davenport$31,110
- Waterloo$30,950
- Des Moines$30,890
- Ames$30,780
- Iowa City$30,680
- Cedar Rapids$30,370
- Dubuque$29,860
All Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salaries in Iowa
Highest-paying cities for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($47,650).
- Kahului, HI$47,650
- Honolulu, HI$44,820
- Portland, OR$44,390
- San Jose, CA$44,080
- Seattle, WA$43,620
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary by city
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Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary in Waterloo: questions
How much do hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop make an hour in Waterloo?
$14.88 an hour on average, and $13.55 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop salary in Waterloo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,330 a year and the 25th percentile is $25,110, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop take-home pay in Waterloo?
About $26,484 a year ($2,207 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $30,950. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop earn more in Waterloo than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less than the U.S. average for this job ($32,690).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-9031; area Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA (47940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.62, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.62).
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