SOC 35-9031 · Appleton, WI metro

Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop Salary in Appleton, WI

The average salary for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in Appleton, Wisconsin is $27,980 a year ($13.45 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $27,870: half of the 300 people in this job in the Appleton, WI metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 14% less than the U.S. average for this job ($32,690).

$27,980average per year

$13.45 / hourMedian $27,870Take-home ≈ $24,152

  • $21K10th
  • $22K25th
  • $28KMedian
  • $31K75th
  • $37K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

300people in this job
-14%vs U.S. average
#6 of 13Wisconsin metros
92cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop pay range in Appleton

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,960 or more. The middle half of hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in Appleton earn between $21,880 and $31,090.

  • $21K10th
  • $22K25th
  • $28KMedian
  • $31K75th
  • $37K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$27,980$2,332$13.45
Median$27,870$2,322$13.40
Entry level (25th percentile)$21,880$1,823$10.52
Experienced (75th percentile)$31,090$2,591$14.95

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop pay in Appleton vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.

Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in Appleton earn about the same as the Wisconsin average ($28,440) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($32,690). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $31,200.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Appleton$27,980$27,870$21,040$36,960300
Wisconsin$28,440$28,060$17,830$37,4406,430
United States$32,690$31,200$22,340$43,990432,690

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 Appleton

On the average salary of $27,980, a single filer in Appleton takes home about $24,152 a year, or $2,013 a month and $929 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).

Wisconsin paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Appleton a good place for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Appleton area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.4), so the average $27,980 buys what about $30,275 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Appleton ($49,910). A typical home costs $350,370, or 12.5 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $27,980 is worth in another city

Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary in other Wisconsin cities

Appleton ranks 6th of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Madison pays the most ($30,420).

All Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salaries in Wisconsin

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).

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 Appleton: questions

How much do hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop make an hour in Appleton?

$13.45 an hour on average, and $13.40 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop salary in Appleton?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $21,880, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop take-home pay in Appleton?

About $24,152 a year ($2,013 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $27,980.

Do hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop earn more in Appleton than elsewhere?

The average here is 14% 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 Appleton, WI (11540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
  • 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).
  • Job concentration: location quotient 0.86, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.

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