GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
Best States to Be a Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop salary goes furthest in Hawaii — a $47,070 BLS median worth $40,925 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 134.1).
Which US states are best for a hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop after cost of living and tax?
For a hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Hawaii #1: a $47,070 BLS median becomes $40,925 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 134.1). Wyoming ranks last ($24,447, index 80.1). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.
Gera US Real Pay Index
Hawaii ranks #1 of 51 states for a hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop. Index 100 = the average state; 134.1 means pay goes 34.1% further after tax and cost of living.
How this is calculatedHosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — real pay by state (best first)
| # | State | BLS median | State tax | Cost (RPP) | Real pay | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $47,070 | $2,073 | 110.0 | $40,925 | 134.1 |
| 2 | Maine | $36,800 | $966 | 97.0 | $36,924 | 121.0 |
| 3 | Oregon | $40,720 | $2,759 | 103.4 | $36,727 | 120.3 |
| 4 | Washington | $37,270 | — | 107.0 | $34,828 | 114.1 |
| 5 | Colorado | $36,340 | $939 | 103.1 | $34,353 | 112.5 |
| 6 | South Dakota | $30,310 | — | 88.6 | $34,215 | 112.1 |
| 7 | Arizona | $34,740 | $394 | 100.7 | $34,116 | 111.8 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $37,570 | $1,154 | 109.9 | $33,135 | 108.5 |
| 9 | California | $36,640 | $477 | 110.7 | $32,661 | 107.0 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $33,920 | — | 104.2 | $32,564 | 106.7 |
| 11 | New York | $36,490 | $1,402 | 107.9 | $32,513 | 106.5 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $34,210 | $614 | 103.6 | $32,425 | 106.2 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $28,660 | — | 89.0 | $32,217 | 105.5 |
| 14 | Maryland | $34,860 | $1,323 | 105.0 | $31,952 | 104.7 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $34,960 | $1,528 | 105.8 | $31,612 | 103.6 |
| 16 | Missouri | $29,130 | $488 | 90.8 | $31,538 | 103.3 |
| 17 | Nevada | $31,170 | — | 100.0 | $31,177 | 102.1 |
| 18 | Vermont | $31,080 | $622 | 98.0 | $31,092 | 101.9 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $28,450 | $483 | 90.1 | $31,038 | 101.7 |
| 20 | Iowa | $28,210 | $1,032 | 87.8 | $30,968 | 101.4 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $34,050 | $508 | 108.8 | $30,827 | 101.0 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $28,480 | $338 | 92.2 | $30,519 | 100.0 |
| 23 | Kansas | $28,110 | $798 | 90.1 | $30,324 | 99.3 |
| 24 | Delaware | $31,200 | $1,055 | 99.8 | $30,203 | 98.9 |
| 25 | Rhode Island | $31,400 | $578 | 102.3 | $30,135 | 98.7 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $27,490 | — | 91.9 | $29,923 | 98.0 |
| 27 | Montana | $28,910 | $654 | 94.6 | $29,855 | 97.8 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $26,760 | $835 | 86.9 | $29,820 | 97.7 |
| 29 | Illinois | $31,200 | $1,403 | 100.0 | $29,809 | 97.7 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $30,200 | $816 | 98.6 | $29,795 | 97.6 |
| 31 | Ohio | $27,550 | — | 92.8 | $29,696 | 97.3 |
| 32 | Alaska | $30,210 | — | 102.4 | $29,514 | 96.7 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $28,320 | $662 | 94.3 | $29,322 | 96.1 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $28,060 | $483 | 94.1 | $29,308 | 96.0 |
| 35 | Virginia | $30,490 | $953 | 101.1 | $29,214 | 95.7 |
| 36 | Michigan | $28,950 | $984 | 96.2 | $29,066 | 95.2 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $27,100 | $953 | 90.2 | $29,001 | 95.0 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | $29,170 | $896 | 97.6 | $28,978 | 94.9 |
| 39 | Florida | $29,810 | — | 103.4 | $28,826 | 94.4 |
| 40 | Utah | $29,610 | $1,347 | 98.9 | $28,587 | 93.6 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $27,000 | $253 | 93.7 | $28,530 | 93.5 |
| 42 | Alabama | $26,130 | $1,042 | 88.8 | $28,245 | 92.5 |
| 43 | Idaho | $27,280 | $433 | 95.5 | $28,114 | 92.1 |
| 44 | Georgia | $27,850 | $854 | 96.3 | $28,035 | 91.8 |
| 45 | Indiana | $26,920 | $778 | 93.3 | $28,011 | 91.8 |
| 46 | Texas | $27,080 | — | 97.1 | $27,901 | 91.4 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $24,740 | $638 | 87.8 | $27,438 | 89.9 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $24,420 | $590 | 89.5 | $26,627 | 87.2 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $21,990 | $162 | 87.0 | $25,103 | 82.2 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $22,060 | $287 | 88.2 | $24,684 | 80.9 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $22,660 | — | 92.7 | $24,447 | 80.1 |
"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.
Where does your salary go furthest?
Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.
In Hawaii, a $47,070 salary is worth about $38,101 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.
State income tax $5,178 (≈ top marginal 11.00% (upper bound)) · take-home $41,892 · BEA cost of living 110.0 (US = 100).
The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $53,135, a $15,034 gain over Hawaii.
| # | State | Real value | Cost (RPP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | $53,135 | 88.6 |
| 2 | Arkansas | $52,031 | 86.9 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $51,762 | 88.2 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $51,751 | 87.0 |
| 5 | Iowa | $51,596 | 87.8 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $51,589 | 89.0 |
| 7 | Tennessee | $51,235 | 91.9 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | $51,039 | 87.8 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $50,782 | 92.7 |
| 10 | Alabama | $50,343 | 88.8 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $50,119 | 90.2 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $50,059 | 89.5 |
Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — real pay FAQ
- What is the best state to be a hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop?
- By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Hawaii is the best state for a hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop: a BLS median of $47,070 is worth $40,925 after the 2025 state income tax ($2,073) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 110.0), an index of 134.1 where the average state is 100.
- Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?
- Not necessarily. Hawaii has the highest headline BLS median for a hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop at $47,070, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 134.1). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
- Where does a hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop salary go least far?
- Wyoming ranks last of 51 states for a hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop: a $22,660 BLS median is worth only $24,447 after tax and cost of living (index 80.1). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.
Compare other occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care AidesWashington
- Retail SalespersonsNorth Dakota
- Fast Food and Counter WorkersCalifornia
- General and Operations ManagersSouth Dakota
- Registered NursesCalifornia
- CashiersWashington
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNorth Dakota
- Stockers and Order FillersWyoming
- Customer Service RepresentativesIowa
- Office Clerks, GeneralNorth Dakota
- Waiters and WaitressesVermont
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersWashington
Get the Gera US Real Pay Index when BLS refreshes OEWS
BLS OEWS updates roughly once a year. Save your email and we’ll send the refreshed real-pay rankings when new wage data lands.
Related on GeraJobs
- Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
- Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
- Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.