Prevailing Wage for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
The prevailing wage for Buffet Hostess roles in the U.S. is set by the Department of Labor under SOC 35-9031. Whether you work as a Greeter, Dining Coordinator, or Hospitality Coordinator, DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts considerably depending on where the worksite is located.
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Entry-level Hosts and Hostesses with little to no prior experience in seating management or guest coordination. Typically performing routine tasks under close supervision, with limited independent judgment expected in day-to-day service operations.
Qualified hosts with some demonstrated experience in guest flow, reservation systems, or lounge coordination. Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation, reflecting roles requiring general competency but not lead-level responsibility.
Experienced professionals who handle complex seating scenarios, mentor junior staff, or coordinate across multiple dining areas. These roles involve moderate independence, specialized venue knowledge, and consistent application of service standards.
Senior or lead hosts with full competency across all aspects of front-of-house guest coordination. May oversee scheduling, train new staff, and serve as a primary point of contact for service quality in larger or high-volume venues.
Prevailing Wage for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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Confirm which title your employer filed under
Host-adjacent roles sometimes get filed under food service supervisor or maître d' SOC codes, which carry different prevailing wage floors. Confirm your employer filed under SOC 35-9031 specifically before accepting an offer tied to a sponsored position.
Watch for tip-credit gaps in wage floor math
Some restaurant employers factor expected tip income into total compensation. For LCA purposes, only the base wage counts toward prevailing wage compliance. Verify your guaranteed base salary meets the floor independently of tip projections.
Target high-wage metros like San Jose or Seattle
Prevailing wage floors for this occupation vary dramatically by location. San Jose and Seattle post Level 1 floors well above the national median. Focusing your search on these metros can meaningfully improve your offer baseline from the start.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with filing history
Hospitality roles like Greeter and Dining Coordinator see inconsistent sponsorship across employer types. Migrate Mate shows which specific restaurant groups and hotel chains have historically sponsored this occupation, so you can focus on proven sponsors.
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Find Jobs for Buffet HostessPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 35-9031.00 alongside Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Buffet Hostess Prevailing Wage
Buffet Hostess Prevailing Wage
Buffet Hostess positions fall under SOC 35-9031.00 (Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Dining Coordinator Prevailing Wage
Dining Coordinator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Dining Coordinator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 35-9031.00 (Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
General Teller Prevailing Wage
General Teller Prevailing Wage
General Teller is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 35-9031.00 (Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Greeter Prevailing Wage
Greeter Prevailing Wage
Greeter positions fall under SOC 35-9031.00 (Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Hospitality Coordinator Prevailing Wage
Hospitality Coordinator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Hospitality Coordinator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 35-9031.00 (Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Host Prevailing Wage
Host Prevailing Wage
Host is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 35-9031.00 (Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Host Coordinator Prevailing Wage
Host Coordinator Prevailing Wage
Host Coordinator positions fall under SOC 35-9031.00 (Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Hostess Prevailing Wage
Hostess Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Hostess for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 35-9031.00 (Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Maitre D' (Maitre d'hotel) Prevailing Wage
Maitre D' (Maitre d'hotel) Prevailing Wage
Maitre D' (Maitre d'hotel) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 35-9031.00 (Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Seater Prevailing Wage
Seater Prevailing Wage
Seater positions fall under SOC 35-9031.00 (Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the DOL set the prevailing wage for Buffet Hostess positions?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 35-9031, OFLC converts regional wage distributions into four wage levels. Employers filing an LCA must offer at least the level that matches the position's actual duties and required experience.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers entry-level roles with minimal experience. Level 2 applies to qualified workers with some independent function, and is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 reflects experienced professionals with broader responsibility. Level 4 is for fully competent, senior-scope roles. The level should match the actual duties and supervision structure in the job offer, not just the title.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Buffet Hostess role differ so much between cities?
OFLC derives wages from regional OES surveys, so each metropolitan area produces its own wage floor based on local employer pay data. The LCA must list the actual worksite location, and the prevailing wage used must correspond to that specific area. Markets with higher costs of living and strong hospitality industries, such as Honolulu or San Jose, produce much higher floors than lower-wage markets.
What happens if an employer's offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored Buffet Hostess position?
An LCA that lists a wage below the applicable prevailing wage will not be certified by DOL. If the LCA fails certification, USCIS cannot approve the H-1B or other work visa petition. The employer must raise the offered wage to at least the prevailing wage floor before refiling. Accepting a below-floor offer does not make the sponsorship valid.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Greeter or Dining Coordinator role in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 35-9031 wages by metropolitan area. Enter the worksite city and confirm which of the four wage levels matches your position's duties. You can cross-reference the O*NET occupation profile for a description of typical skill and experience requirements at each level. Migrate Mate can help you identify which employers in your target city have an active sponsorship history for this occupation.
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