The role of an Airbnb co host has evolved from a casual side hustle into a professional income stream, especially as vacation rental businesses scale.
Airbnb co hosts play an essential role in managing listings and ensuring guest satisfaction, handling tasks such as guest turnovers, coordinating cleanings, and overseeing communication.
Whether you’re managing guest turnovers, coordinating cleanings, or overseeing communication, understanding the structure of Airbnb co host salary and payouts is critical to making smart business decisions.
What Does an Airbnb Co-Host Do?
An Airbnb co host is a person authorized to help a primary host manage an Airbnb listing.
Airbnb hosts can designate co-hosts to assist with various tasks, and the amount Airbnb hosts can earn varies significantly based on location, demand, and market conditions.
This can include:
- Handling guest communication
- Managing check ins and check outs
- Ensuring the space is guest ready
- Scheduling or directly performing all the cleaning
- Updating availability via listing update calendar
- Supporting a seamless guest experience
These hosting responsibilities are time consuming and can vary based on the Airbnb property, guest volume, and number of listings managed.n $20 to $40 for that booking.
Hosting Responsibilities and Co Hosting
Co-hosting is a collaborative approach to managing an Airbnb property, where a host and co-host work together to provide a seamless guest experience.
The co-host’s responsibilities can vary depending on the agreement, but common tasks include guest communication, cleaning, and managing reservations.
Co-hosts can also be responsible for welcoming guests, handling emergencies, and providing feedback for reviews.
In terms of hosting responsibilities, co-hosts can assist with tasks such as:
- Managing guest experience: Co-hosts can help ensure that guests have a smooth and enjoyable stay by responding to inquiries, resolving issues, and providing recommendations.
- Cleaning and maintenance: Co-hosts can be responsible for cleaning the property, including laundry and restocking essentials.
- Managing reservations: Co-hosts can help manage bookings, including updating the calendar and communicating with guests.
- Providing feedback: Co-hosts can provide valuable feedback to hosts on how to improve the property and guest experience.
Co-hosting can be a great way for hosts to share responsibilities and earn more money, while also providing a better experience for guests.
By working together, hosts and co-hosts can create a seamless and enjoyable experience for guests, while also increasing their earning potential.
How Much Do You Make as an Airbnb Co-Host?
Co host payout structures vary widely depending on services offered, region, and agreement type. Most co-hosts earn between 10% and 30% of the booking revenue.
For example, a co-host might earn 20% of the booking revenue for handling guest communications and 30% for managing cleaning services and turnovers.
According to 10XBNB, top-tier co host earners use a tiered pricing model—earning more for active involvement like on-site guest management or turnover services.
Co-host fees are often a percentage of the nightly rate, which can significantly impact their potential income based on their responsibilities.
Hosts can determine how much to pay co-hosts by considering the scope of work and the percentage of the nightly rate agreed upon.
Visit their Airbnb Co Host Salaries page for a detailed earnings breakdown.
Factors That Influence Airbnb Co Host Salary
- Scope of Services – The more co responsibilities you handle (e.g., Airbnb coordinate cleaning, listing owner’s payout management, or dynamic pricing), the higher your potential earnings. Clearly defining the co-host’s responsibilities and payout percentages is crucial for effective management.
- Location – In-demand tourist areas bring more bookings and higher nightly rates.
- Experience Level – Experienced hosts command premium rates due to increased efficiency and reliability.
- Type of Agreement – Are you earning a fixed amount, a flat fee, or a percentage split of bookings? Co-hosts can be listed as primary hosts, which impacts their level of access and responsibilities.
- Local Co Hosts – Some local co professionals specialize in high-volume operations with 10+ Airbnb properties, impacting earning potential significantly. Owners are responsible for expenses like utilities and maintenance, and co-hosting arrangements can have significant implications for tax reporting and management duties.
Co Host Payout Methods
There are two primary ways a co host can get paid:
- Through the Airbnb platform: You’ll need to be added to the Airbnb account with permission to receive payouts directly. Setting up payments through the Airbnb platform is easy and straightforward.
- Externally via agreement: Many hosts and co prefer a private Airbnb co host agreement outlining the payout method. Co-hosts will start receiving payouts after guests check in.
Important: Use Airbnb’s routing rules to share payouts and set visibility limits on the same account for security.
Airbnb Co Host Fees Breakdown
There’s no one-size-fits-all structure for Airbnb co host fees, but common methods include:
- Flat fee: A predetermined rate per month or per booking
- Percentage split: Often 20–25% of gross booking income
- Hourly rate: For on-demand services like check in or cleaning coordination
Co-hosts cannot access the listing owner’s payout or taxpayer information.
To formalize these expectations, 10XBNB suggests using a clear Airbnb Co Host Contract.
Regional Limitations to Sharing Payouts
When it comes to sharing payouts with co-hosts, there are some regional limitations to be aware of. These limitations can vary depending on the location of the host, co-host, and listing, and can impact the amount of money that can be shared.
Some regional limitations to sharing payouts include:
- Taxes: Co-host payouts may be subject to taxes, which can impact the amount of money that can be shared.
- Regulations: Some regions have regulations that restrict the amount of money that can be shared with co-hosts.
- Currency restrictions: Co-host payouts may be restricted to certain currencies, which can impact the amount of money that can be shared.
It’s essential for hosts and co-hosts to understand these regional limitations and to factor them into their agreement.
By doing so, they can ensure that they are complying with local regulations and that they are able to share payouts fairly and efficiently.
In terms of co-host payout exceptions, there are some scenarios where co-hosts may not receive a payout, or may receive a reduced payout. These scenarios can include:
- In situations where the host’s potential earnings exceed the total of all co-host payouts, the co-hosts are prioritized and paid first, while the host will receive the remaining balance.
- In some cases, either a co-host or the host might not receive a payout, or will receive less than expected, due to regional limitations or other factors.
By understanding these regional limitations and co-host payout exceptions, hosts and co-hosts can ensure that they are able to share payouts fairly and efficiently, while also complying with local regulations.
Pros and Cons of Being an Airbnb Co-Host
Pros:
- Flexibility in schedule and services
- A chance to earn more money without owning property
- Can be scaled into a full time job or business
- When your business is thriving, it makes sense to consider co-hosting as a viable option
Cons:
- Earnings can vary significantly based on seasonality and demand
- May require dealing with guest checks at odd hours
- Need to manage taxpayer information and invoices
Is Co-Hosting Airbnb Worth It?
For those willing to put in the effort and treat co-hosting as a business, the answer is yes. You can build a steady income stream and eventually scale to managing multiple listings.
Co-hosts play a crucial role in managing vacation rentals, ensuring smooth operations and providing timely assistance, especially when handling multiple listings.
Want to position yourself as a top co-host? Check out Airbnb Co Host Training by 10XBNB for practical, field-tested systems.
Who Should Consider Becoming a Co Host?
- A family member assisting with another person’s listing
- New entrepreneurs seeking net income without owning property
- Property managers seeking to break into short-term rentals
- Co-hosts can benefit listing owners by alleviating time constraints and managing tasks associated with short-term rentals.
- Virtual operators scaling via Airbnb Virtual Assistant roles
Pro Tip: Know How Much Work You’re Taking On
Before agreeing to manage a property, evaluate:
- Number of bookings per month
- Size and condition of the unit
- Time needed for check out/check in cycles
- Whether the host expects you to write reviews or stay write reviews for guests
It is crucial to understand the responsibilities listed in a co-host agreement to ensure clarity on the level of access and duties involved.
Airbnb Co-Host Taxes and Payout Logistics
Airbnb requires taxpayer information for anyone receiving funds via their platform. If you’re splitting revenue from a listing owner, ensure your service policy covers taxation, invoicing, and receive payouts tracking.
Listing owners play a crucial role in managing tax implications and often utilize co-hosts to assist with operations. Co-hosts can benefit listing owners by alleviating time constraints and managing tasks associated with short-term rentals.
Always review your Airbnb account and transaction history regularly, especially if you’re managing multiple listings. For expert guidance, 10XBNB’s Hiring an Airbnb Consultant page is a great place to start.
How to Make More Money as an Airbnb Co Host
To increase your Airbnb co host salary, focus on:
- Upskilling via Co Host Market knowledge
- Offering add-ons (e.g., cleaning fee bundling, late check in/out services)
- Managing listing updates and pricing strategies
- Maximizing guest communication to improve reviews and occupancy
Some of the highest-paid co-hosts are those who learned how to Become an Airbnb Co Host through structured systems that 10XBNB teaches.
Final Thoughts
The role of the co host is more than answering messages or setting a thermostat. It’s a structured, scalable opportunity with serious income potential—especially when backed by training, solid systems, and a smart Airbnb co host agreement.
As the Airbnb ecosystem grows, professional co services are in greater demand. With the right knowledge, a focus on guest experience, and an understanding of how to share payouts, your co-hosting career can thrive. For example, different payout scenarios for co-hosts can include detailed breakdowns of earnings, fees, and percentages relative to cleaning charges and host earnings.
If you’re serious about growing your rental business, leverage 10XBNB’s Short-Term Rental Consultants to scale faster, smarter, and with greater confidence.
