Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
SOC Code: 35-9031
Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop carries a 33% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $30,380 and -1.5% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 429,900 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop (SOC 35-9031) carries an AI exposure score of 33%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 429,900 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a -1.5% change through 2034 — a decline that often compounds with high AI exposure to create displacement headwinds. Median annual compensation stands at $30,380, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires No formal educational credential, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Provide guests with menus.
- 2. Greet guests and seat them at tables or in waiting areas.
- 3. Maintain contact with kitchen staff, management, serving staff, and customers to ensure that dining details are handled properly and customers' concerns are addressed.
- 4. Assign patrons to tables suitable for their needs and according to rotation so that servers receive an appropriate number of seatings.
- 5. Speak with patrons to ensure satisfaction with food and service, to respond to complaints, or to make conversation.
- 6. Inspect dining and serving areas to ensure cleanliness and proper setup.
- 7. Operate cash registers to accept payments for food and beverages.
- 8. Supervise and coordinate activities of dining room staff to ensure that patrons receive prompt and courteous service.
- 9. Answer telephone calls and respond to inquiries or transfer calls.
- 10. Assist other restaurant workers by serving food and beverages, or by bussing tables.
Key Skills Required
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Service Orientation
- Social Perceptiveness
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
- Coordination
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Persuasion
Knowledge Areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Food Production
- Psychology
- Computers and Electronics
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Foreign Language
- Administration and Management
- Sales and Marketing
- Public Safety and Security
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop?
Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop has an AI exposure score of 33%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop is projected to decline by 1.5% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 429,900 workers.
What skills are needed for Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop?
Key skills for Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop include Active Listening, Speaking, Service Orientation, and others. Typical entry-level education is No formal educational credential.
How much do Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop earn?
The median annual wage for Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop is $30,380, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop?
The typical entry-level education for Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop is No formal educational credential. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Short-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop?
Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Related Occupations
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).