Host Jobs in Arlington, TX
Host jobs in Arlington run from Lincoln Square and the Entertainment District hotels to sit-down chains along I-20 and Bowen Road. It is the usual first front of house job, and no license is needed. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring and what hosts earn.
Current host Openings in Arlington, TX
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Host Work in Arlington
Arlington's host jobs split between full-service chains and hotel dining rooms. Olive Garden at Lincoln Square in North Arlington, near I-30 and Collins Street, and Cracker Barrel's stores on South Bowen Road and North Watson Road all hire hosts directly. In the Entertainment District, Loews Arlington Hotel hires restaurant hosts for its dining outlets on Nolan Ryan Expressway, where convention groups and stadium crowds set the pace.
Event nights at AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field fill nearby dining rooms before and after games, so weekend and event availability matters more to Arlington managers than experience. Neighborhood restaurants in South Arlington run a steadier week.
Top Arlington Employers Hiring Hosts
These employers list host or front of house roles for Arlington locations on their own careers sites:
- Olive Garden - the North Arlington restaurant at Lincoln Square is hiring hosts.
- Cracker Barrel - hiring hosts at its South Bowen Road and North Watson Road stores.
- Loews Arlington Hotel - the convention hotel hires restaurant hosts for its dining outlets.
- The Cheesecake Factory - the chain's careers site names a host role in Arlington.
- Chili's - the North Arlington restaurant on Copeland Road lists front of house roles.
Host Salaries in Arlington
- Entry level: about $10 to $12 per hour for weekday and first-job shifts.
- Experienced: roughly $12 to $15 per hour, often plus a share of server tip-out.
- Senior: about $15 to $19 per hour for lead hosts and hotel reservations roles.
These are estimates. Chili's posts a general hourly range of $10 to $20 for its team members, and the BLS national median for the food and beverage serving group was $15.24 an hour in May 2025. Busy weekend shifts, tip-out policies and hotel versus restaurant employers move pay the most.
How to Become a Host in Arlington
There is no state license for hosts in Texas, and no degree or experience is required. If you handle utensils, plates or food-contact surfaces, as most hosts do when resetting tables, the Texas Department of State Health Services requires an accredited food handler course within 30 days of employment, and the employer keeps the certificate on premises.
Alcohol adds an age line. You must be 18 to handle alcohol on-premise in Texas, and TABC seller-server certification, valid for two years, is not required by law but most employers ask for it. Hosts who want a hospitality career can take Tarrant County College's Hospitality Management AAS at the Southeast Campus, 2100 Southeast Parkway, the only TCC campus that offers it.
What the Job Involves
You greet guests, quote waits, seat by rotation so no server gets buried, manage the reservation book or wait list, answer the phone and hand off to-go orders. You are on your feet the whole shift and set the tone for the dining room.
Skills Employers Look For
- A Texas food handler certificate within 30 days of hire
- Accurate wait quotes and even table rotation
- Comfort with reservation and wait list apps
- Calm under a crowded lobby on event nights
- Clear phone manner and to-go handoffs
- Weekend and evening availability
Career Path and Advancement
Hosting is the bench that Arlington restaurants promote from. A host who learns the menu usually moves to server, then to bartender once 18 and TABC certified, then shift lead and assistant manager. In the Loews hotels the path can also run into reservations, events and banquet work for the convention center.
Related Careers in Arlington
Hosts in Arlington usually move into one of these roles:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a food handler card to be a host in Arlington, TX?
If you handle plates, utensils or food-contact surfaces, yes. DSHS requires an accredited food handler course within 30 days of employment, and many Arlington restaurants simply require it of every hourly employee.
How old do you have to be to host in Arlington?
It varies by employer, but alcohol sets the main limit. You must be 18 to handle alcohol on-premise in Texas, so younger hosts can seat guests and run the book but cannot carry drinks.
How much do hosts make in Arlington, TX?
Expect about $10 to $15 an hour, often plus a share of the server tip-out. These are estimates; lead hosts and hotel roles pay more.
Do hosts need TABC certification in Texas?
Not by law. TABC seller-server certification is voluntary and valid for two years, but most Arlington employers that serve alcohol prefer it, and it is required before you move up to bartending at most of them.
How long does it take to go from host to server in Arlington?
Often six to twelve months. Restaurants fill server sections from their own host staff first, so learning the menu and covering weekend shifts shortens the wait.
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