What Does A Restaurant, Lounge and Coffee Shop Host and Hostess Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

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Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Restaurant Hosts and Hostesses

Restaurant Hosts and Hostesses welcome patrons, seat them at tables or in lounge, and help ensure quality of facilities and service.

Salary
$24800
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality


What they do

Restaurant Hosts and Hostesses welcome patrons, seat them at tables or in lounge, and help ensure quality of facilities and service.

  • Provide guests with menus.
  • Assign patrons to tables suitable for their needs and according to rotation so that servers receive an appropriate number of seatings.
  • Greet guests and seat them at tables or in waiting areas.
  • Answer telephone calls and respond to inquiries or transfer calls.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Restaurant Hosts and Hostesses provide guests with menus. They greet guests and seat them at tables or in waiting areas.

A typical day for a Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop Host and Hostess will also include:

  • Operate cash registers to accept payments for food and beverages.
  • Assign patrons to tables suitable for their needs and according to rotation so that servers receive an appropriate number of seatings.
  • Answer telephone calls and respond to inquiries or transfer calls.
  • Maintain contact with kitchen staff, management, serving staff, and customers to ensure that dining details are handled properly and customers’ concerns are addressed.
  • Speak with patrons to ensure satisfaction with food and service, respond to complaints, or make conversation.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Restaurant Hosts and Hostesses also plan parties or other special events and services. They may also hire, train, and supervise food and beverage service staff.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Restaurant Hosts and Hostesses prepare staff work schedules. They might also prepare cash receipts after establishments close, and make bank deposits.

In addition, they direct patrons to coatrooms and waiting areas such as lounges.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them receive and record patrons’ dining reservations.

To some Restaurant Hosts and Hostesses, it is also their responsibility to confer with other staff to help plan establishments’ menus.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Low

Is this job meaningful

Low

56% said they were satisfied with their job and 33% said they found their job meaningful.


Kesi Irvin
The Yacht Week and The Bucketlust

I worked as a hostess for sailing charters for The Yacht Week and The Bucketlust.

My key responsibility as a host is to ensure my guests have the best week of their lives. I love my job because I get to make people happy via my cooking and personality.

As a hostess, I am responsible for cooking breakfast and lunch every day, cleaning the galley, organizing activities onshore – like jet skiing or military tours, and recommending delicious restaurants for dinner. I work together with my skipper to show our guests a great time. The charter companies I work for, The Yacht Week and The Bucketlust, are extremely sociable, which I like.

Eventhough I’m working, I get to have a lot of fun on the job. It’s common for me to drink with my guests and show them how to party. The cooking standard is high, but I love making people smile by serving up meals.

My typical day

I usually start my day at 7 am and start to clean the boat. Then I cook breakfast for my guests. Until 3 pm, I’m usually cooking or cleaning, but I might have an hour’s break to sunbathe on the boat. After lunch, my main role is to introduce the guests to fun activities on shores and making dinner reservations at nice restaurants. The company I work for hosts a party each night, so I direct my guests to the party venue and typically join them in the festivities. After the party, I’m usually in bed by midnight.

Pros

The best part about my job is meeting people. I have an international global network of friends. I might not be wealthy financially, but I’m extremely wealthy in terms of relationships. I love connecting with my guests and other staff because I have people I can visit worldwide. Since I take care of my guests during the charter, they are super happy to invite and host me in their home cities. I’ve visited guests in Brazil, the USA, Australia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and more places!

It’s also an entertaining job, and I’m allowed to drink on the job.

Cons

Cooking on a boat is not like cooking in a regular kitchen. Each week I am on a different boat, and many of the utensils aren’t the best. Sometimes an oven doesn’t work well, or the knives or sharp, so I have to adapt to the different boat settings.

Another con is that The Yacht Week pays under the market rate for a hostess. We are doing a lot of work, and I would like The Yacht Week to compensate its staff more. I prefer working for the Bucketlust since they respect their staff and pay us an acceptable wage.

Partying can also be very tiresome. The job is essentially 24/7 because you want to make sure guests are always having a good time.


Pros

Suitable for people who like to start and carry out projects.

Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.

This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.

It is very easy to get into this career. Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

Short working hours (Less than 40 hours per week).

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to solve problems mentally.

One of the lowest paying jobs.

How much do they make

Average salary

$24800 per year

Average hourly wage

$12 per hour

Entry-level Restaurant Hosts and Hostesses with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $17,780 to $19,670 per year or $9 to $9 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $32,360 $16
Senior (Top 25%) $28,170 $14
Median $23,880 $11
Junior (Bottom 25%) $19,670 $9
No experience (Bottom 10%) $17,780 $9

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Restaurant Hosts and Hostesses based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water $32790 $15.76
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals $29610 $14.23
Performing Arts Companies $29220 $14.05
Civic and Social Organizations $28340 $13.62
Amusement Parks and Arcades $28340 $13.63
Traveler Accommodation $28340 $13.63
Other Personal Services $27980 $13.45
Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly $27630 $13.29
Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations $27310 $13.13
Special Food Services $27240 $13.10

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Restaurant Hosts and Hostesses work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Restaurant Hosts and Hostesses including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Restaurants and Other Eating Places 276810 $24490 $11.78
Traveler Accommodation 13670 $28340 $13.63
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) 6010 $25940 $12.47
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries 4370 $24270 $11.67
Special Food Services 2640 $27240 $13.10
Gambling Industries 2420 $25490 $12.26
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 1620 $29610 $14.23
Amusement Parks and Arcades 1300 $28340 $13.63
Food and Beverage Stores 1030 $24520 $11.79
Employment Services 970 $26480 $12.73

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
69%

40 hours
26%

More than 40 hours
5%

Working schedule

80%

12%

8%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
24%

Every day
9%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
5%

Every day
81%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
19%

Every day
71%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
37%

Once a year
16%

Once a month
5%

Once a week
8%

Every day
34%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
34%

Slightly competitive
24%

Moderately competitive
22%

Highly competitive
14%

Extremely competitive
5%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
24%

Once a year or more
3%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
10%

Every day
63%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
76%

Once a year or more
10%

Once a month or more
5%

Once a week or more
5%

Every day
5%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
75%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
5%

Once a week or more
14%

Every day
6%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
71%

Once a year or more
5%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
16%

Every day
8%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Easy
You may need some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Most careers in this difficulty category usually don’t require a degree. However, you will need a few months of on-the-job training with experienced employees. Similar careers include Customer Service Representatives, Security Guards, and Bank Tellers.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
32%

High School Diploma or equivalent
62%

Post-Secondary Certificate
0%

Some College Courses
0%

Associate’s Degree or similar
0%

Bachelor’s Degree
6%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

No majors found

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
35%

1 month
14%

1 to 3 months
14%

3 to 6 months
20%

6 months to 1 year
13%

1 to 2 years
0%

2 to 4 years
4%

4 to 6 years
0%

6 to 8 years
0%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
14%

1 month
72%

1 to 3 months
10%

3 to 6 months
0%

6 months to 1 year
0%

1 to 2 years
0%

2 to 4 years
4%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Leader

People with this personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.

The Builder
43%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
14%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
19%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
62%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
86%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
43%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.

They also like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
38%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
36%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
33%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
71%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
43%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
33%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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