Hostess Job Description: Roles, Responsibilities, and Skills

First impressions matter, and in a bar or restaurant, that moment belongs to your host or hostess. They set the vibe with a warm welcome and make sure things flow easily—which means smoother days, happier staff, and less turnover.

If you're bringing someone new on board, a clear hostess job description is key for attracting the right fit. In this article, we’ll break down how to craft the skills, qualifications, and duties of a hostess into a job description.

Quick note: “Host” and “hostess” are super gendered terms, so assume we’ll be using them interchangeably here!

TL;DR: Duties, responsibilities, and skills of a great hostess

In a rush? Here’s a quick breakdown of a hostess or host job description:

The basic duties and responsibilities of a hostess include:

• Greeting and welcoming guests
• Keeping front of house and dining area clean and tidy
• Answering phone calls and customer inquiries
• Managing reservations and the waitlist
• Escorting customers to their tables or the waiting area
• Helping out waitstaff during rushes
• Professionally handling guest complaints
• Introducing the server to the guests 
• Processing customer payments in smaller restaurants
• For lead hostesses, scheduling and training

The must-have skills on a hostess resume:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work well under pressure
• Great memory and organizational skills
• Basic (but accurate) math for cash and POS
• Cooperative attitude and willingness to learn
• Previous restaurant experience or transferable skills

{{banner-cta}}

What does a hostess do?

As the first friendly face guests see, a restaurant hostless sets the stage for their dining experience. Depending on the business, their daily tasks can vary widely—but their impact on both guests and operations is undeniable.

A hostess’s duties fall into four categories

• Delivering top notch customer service
• Making sure the restaurant is tidy and welcoming
• Managing front-of-house tasks like reservations and phone calls
• Coordinating with kitchen and back-of-house staff

When you’re writing a restaurant hostess job description, it’s important to highlight that the work isn’t just about greeting guests. It’s about creating a smooth experience that supports the entire team and keeps customers coming back.

Hostess duties and responsibilities

The job description for a hostess can vary from place to place, but here are some common responsibilities:

• Greet and welcome guests with warmth and energy. A friendly first impression sets the tone for excellent customer service—nobody wants to be met by someone glued to their phone.
• Keep the entryway and host stand clean and organized. Whether it's casual or upscale, a tidy space makes guests feel more comfortable.
• Answer phone calls and guest questions. From menu items to hours and dietary needs, a helpful and knowledgeable hostess builds trust and keeps customers coming back.
• Manage reservations and waitlists. Staying organized during busy hours helps the dining room run smoothly.
• Escort guests to tables or the waiting area. Keep the flow moving and make sure accessible seating is handled with care.
• Support the team when needed. Whether it’s running food or refilling waters, a great hostess helps out during busy shifts.
• Touch up tables between guests. Bussers usually clear and reset, but hostesses handle those final details that make everything guest-ready.
• Handle guest complaints calmly and kindly. If something’s off, a good hostess listens, responds professionally, and helps make it right.

Depending on the type of restaurant you’re running, a hostess job might also include:

• Providing menu and server information to get the interaction started. This is common in high-end restaurants, or when training new waitstaff.
• Taking food and beverage orders and offering recommendations. In some places—especially smaller or fast-casual spots!—a hostess may help with simple orders or suggest popular menu items.
• Operating POS systems to process customer payments efficiently. In some restaurants, hostesses handle takeout payments or help with checkout at the front. It’s similar to a cashier role, but more guest-focused than transaction-focused.

Specific duties of a lead hostess

A lead hostess job description will typically include a few extra responsibilities:

• Supervising and training the host team. A lead hostess offers formal and on-the-fly training to new team members, and answers questions that help them get confident on the floor.
• Overseeing front-of-house operations and scheduling. They help manage the flow at the host stand, adjust the seating chart as needed, and schedule host shifts.
• Maintaining high standards of service. A great lead hostess models warm, attentive service, as well as the flexibility to make good judgment calls about customer service.

If you’re specifically hiring for a lead hostess role, someone with previous hosting experience will likely be a stronger fit than someone who’s never worked in a restaurant.

Essential hostess skills and qualifications

Whether you're hiring fresh talent or promoting a trusted team member, certain skills help a hostess shine:

• Strong communication and people skills. A friendly, confident communicator makes guests feel welcome and can handle sticky situations with ease.
• Ability to stay cool under pressure. Hostesses often navigate dinner rushes, waitlists, and last-minute changes. Experience in fast-paced event management or barista roles can be game changers.
• Organized with a good memory. Juggling seating charts, special requests, and server rotations takes multitasking magic.
• Basic math for POS or wait times. Some hostess jobs involve payments or estimating wait times, so cashier or retail associate experience can be a big bonus.
• Certifications (if needed). Depending on the restaurant, a food handler or alcohol service certifications might be needed—but they’re quick to get, especially for folks with prior food service experience.
• Entry-level friendly. Many hostess jobs are perfect for summer students or those new to hospitality, but lead hostess roles usually need more experience.
• Comfortable asking questions. Great hostesses don’t guess—they ask. Entry-level hostesses who are eager to learn can be promoted to lead roles once they have experience.
• Team-oriented mindset. Restaurants thrive on teamwork. A hostess who communicates and collaborates well can step in where needed and keep the energy upbeat during busy shifts.

Quick tip: Restaurant experience is great, but don’t overlook someone new to the field—transferable skills can go a long way.

Recommended hostess education and certifications

In the United States, restaurant hostesses aren’t legally required to have certifications, but some employers may prefer candidates who do. A couple common certifications include ServSafe Alcohol for hostesses who serve alcohol or check IDs, or ServSafe Food Handler to cover generally food safety.

While not required, it’s also a bonus if front-of-house staff have CPR and First Aid Certification in case of choking or allergy emergencies.

Some states have different health and safety requirements, so check your local laws before you put up your official hostess job description.

Hostess salary expectations

In the United States, most hostesses earn anywhere from $13-$17 dollars per hour, depending on a few factors:

• Location: In states with higher cost of living, like New York or California, hostesses will often earn on the higher end of the scale. In lower-cost states, they might be closer to the federal minimum wage, which is $7.25 as of 2025. 
• Type of restaurant: Upscale or busy restaurants in cities will often have higher pay, but casual or small-town spots might offer more flexible hours.
• Tips: Hostesses typically don’t get as many tips as servers, but in some restaurants, they might be included in the tip pool.

Lead hostesses usually earn on the higher end, since they take on extra responsibilities like guiding the host team and helping run the front of house (FOH).

When you’re posting a job description for a hostess, don’t forget to include the salary range. This provides extra transparency, and can attract some quality candidates if your pay is competitive.

Hostess job description template for employers

A great job description for a hostess does two things: help employers attract the right people and give applicants a clear picture of what the role is really like.

Feel free to use this hostess job description for your next posting, and make any tweaks you need to personalize it for your restaurant:

We’re hiring an enthusiastic hostess to create memorable guest experiences and deliver exceptional customer service!

Looking for a fun, team-driven job in hospitality? We’re hiring a hostess to be the smiling face at the door and the calm in the dinner rush.

You’ll greet and seat guests, support your coworkers, and help the whole place run like a dream. If you love working with people and can multitask like a pro, we think you’ll fit right in.

What you’ll do: duties and responsibilities.

• Give guests a warm welcome
• Manage reservations and the waitlist
• Answer phone calls and questions from guests
• Keep front of house looking spotless
• Coordinate seating and escort guests to their tables
• Step in to support wait staff as needed
• Answer questions about the menu
• Provide exceptional customer service

What you bring: soft and hard skills.

• Positive energy and people skills
• The ability to work (and thrive!) under pressure
• A team-player attitude and willingness to learn
• Basic math skills and experience with POS operation
• Confident conflict resolution
• Organization skills and a sharp memory
• Availability for shift work (days, evenings, weekends) minimum 15hrs/week

Bonus points for:

• Previous restaurant or hosting experience
• Food safety certificates (we can help you get one if not!)

What we offer:

• Competitive hourly wage: $15 - $18 per hour (plus tips!)
• Time-and-a-half pay on holidays
• Flexible schedules and the option to pick up shits

How to apply, and what happens next.

[Here you can pop in your specific application instructions, required materials, and next steps.]

Hostess description for resume: What employers should look for

When scanning a hostess job description resume, here are the details that’ll help you pick out rockstar candidates for the job:

• Busy restaurant experience? Big plus. If they’ve worked in a fast-paced spot, they’re probably great at handling crowds and keeping things moving.
• Knows how to upsell and wow guests. Look for examples where they boosted sales and made people feel welcome—it’s a winning combo.
• Essentially skills clearly listed. Things like POS systems, multitasking, and general restaurant know-how show they’re ready to jump in and keep things running smoothly.

Highlighting these details on a resume shows you who’s polished, prepared, and ready to dive into the job. If those key points are missing? It might be a sign they’re not quite the right fit for your hostess role.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about hostess job descriptions

Here are some frequently asked questions about what would be in a job description for a hostess:

What is a hostess?

A hostess is a restaurant’s front of house greeter, who assists both guests and staff in creating a welcoming dining experience. As the first point of contact, a strong restaurant hostess sets the tone for great service while keeping things like reservations and waitlists organized.

What is the typical job description of a hostess?

A typical job description of a hostess typically includes greeting guests, managing seating and reservations, answering phones, and coordinating front-of-house flow. Overall, customer service is the priority in a hostess or host job.

How do you describe hosting on a resume?

On a resume, previous experience with a hostess job could include language like:

• Facilitated guest seating with a friendly attitude
• Managed reservations and the waitlist 
• Pitched in serving food and drinks in a rush
• Used POS systems to coordinate front of house tasks
• Tidied final touches on tables

What is the difference between a hostess and a waitress?

A hostess greets guests and handles the seating, while a waitress takes orders and brings out the food. Both jobs are super important—they just focus on different parts of the dining experience.

What kind of skills do you need to be a hostess?

Essential hostess job description skills include strong communication, multitasking and organization, customer service, and a team-player attitude. Knowing how to use a POS system is a bonus, and staying calm and friendly goes a long way.

Finding (and keeping!) the perfect restaurant hostess

Writing a clear hostess job description makes it way easier to find the right people. The more details you include, the better your chances of finding that perfect fit. Use the tips and templates above to build a post that fits your vibe—and attracts the candidates you want to keep.

Looking for a way to manage schedules and time tracking as you build out your team? Let’s talk about what we can do to help you out!

{{banner-cta}}