Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop's pay go, state by state?
A Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop's pay leaves the most room in Maine — about $2,245/mo take-home against $1,104/mo typical rent — and the least in Virginia.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | $2,245/mo | $1,104/mo | 49% |
| Vermont | $2,242/mo | $1,207/mo | 54% |
| South Dakota | $1,838/mo | $910/mo | 50% |
| North Dakota | $1,828/mo | $911/mo | 50% |
| Arkansas | $1,745/mo | $903/mo | 52% |
| Iowa | $1,754/mo | $932/mo | 53% |
| Missouri | $1,802/mo | $997/mo | 55% |
| Michigan | $1,825/mo | $1,072/mo | 59% |
| Washington | $2,386/mo | $1,641/mo | 69% |
| New York | $2,335/mo | $1,621/mo | 69% |
| New Mexico | $1,728/mo | $1,034/mo | 60% |
| Tennessee | $1,784/mo | $1,111/mo | 62% |
| Wisconsin | $1,705/mo | $1,033/mo | 61% |
| Minnesota | $1,901/mo | $1,230/mo | 65% |
| Kansas | $1,690/mo | $1,025/mo | 61% |
| Illinois | $1,905/mo | $1,246/mo | 65% |
| Pennsylvania | $1,824/mo | $1,176/mo | 64% |
| Indiana | $1,669/mo | $1,022/mo | 61% |
| Rhode Island | $1,934/mo | $1,289/mo | 67% |
| Wyoming | $1,622/mo | $979/mo | 60% |
| West Virginia | $1,487/mo | $848/mo | 57% |
| Kentucky | $1,531/mo | $918/mo | 60% |
| Nebraska | $1,615/mo | $1,017/mo | 63% |
| Ohio | $1,580/mo | $986/mo | 62% |
| Massachusetts | $2,295/mo | $1,716/mo | 75% |
| Oregon | $2,008/mo | $1,431/mo | 71% |
| New Hampshire | $1,986/mo | $1,424/mo | 72% |
| Connecticut | $2,031/mo | $1,483/mo | 73% |
| Alaska | $1,897/mo | $1,361/mo | 72% |
| Arizona | $1,934/mo | $1,419/mo | 73% |
| Oklahoma | $1,478/mo | $970/mo | 66% |
| Nevada | $1,966/mo | $1,478/mo | 75% |
| Alabama | $1,438/mo | $967/mo | 67% |
| Utah | $1,867/mo | $1,396/mo | 75% |
| Idaho | $1,626/mo | $1,163/mo | 72% |
| Mississippi | $1,389/mo | $933/mo | 67% |
| District of Columbia | $2,341/mo | $1,900/mo | 81% |
| South Carolina | $1,553/mo | $1,131/mo | 73% |
| Delaware | $1,737/mo | $1,321/mo | 76% |
| Louisiana | $1,444/mo | $1,028/mo | 71% |
| New Jersey | $2,059/mo | $1,656/mo | 80% |
| Texas | $1,730/mo | $1,328/mo | 77% |
| Montana | $1,425/mo | $1,031/mo | 72% |
| North Carolina | $1,522/mo | $1,147/mo | 75% |
| Georgia | $1,690/mo | $1,320/mo | 78% |
| Hawaii | $2,263/mo | $1,927/mo | 85% |
| Colorado | $1,986/mo | $1,659/mo | 84% |
| Florida | $1,849/mo | $1,542/mo | 83% |
| California | $2,256/mo | $1,969/mo | 87% |
| Maryland | $1,958/mo | $1,683/mo | 86% |
| Virginia | $1,821/mo | $1,547/mo | 85% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.