Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper Salary in Baltimore, MD
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median $37,540 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,924 take-home, or $2,577 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in Baltimore, MD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,325
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,327
- Medicare (1.45%)$544
- Maryland income tax$1,420
- Take-home pay$30,924
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.75% state
Living in Baltimore City? City residents also pay Baltimore City’s city income tax — about $992 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $29,932 ($2,494 a month). Choose “Baltimore City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper pay by experience in Baltimore, MD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,500 | $15.14 | $26,358 | $2,196 |
| 25th percentile | $34,490 | $16.58 | $28,618 | $2,385 |
| Median (50th) | $37,540 | $18.05 | $30,924 | $2,577 |
| 75th percentile | $38,390 | $18.46 | $31,566 | $2,631 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,330 | $21.79 | $36,813 | $3,068 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maryland resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,540 buys in Baltimore, MD
Prices in Baltimore, MD are 4.5% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper's $30,924 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,596 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Baltimore, MD has 1.3× the national concentration of dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers, adjusted for cost of living
Baltimore, MD ranks #7 of 41 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $50,200 | $40,217 | $36,245 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $45,120 | $38,434 | $34,584 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $41,710 | $34,494 | $31,238 |
| 4 | Buffalo, NY | $35,140 | $29,114 | $30,377 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $36,960 | $31,162 | $30,162 |
| 6 | Jacksonville, FL | $34,290 | $29,732 | $29,886 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $37,540 | $30,924 | $29,596 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $36,880 | $30,899 | $29,210 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 41 metros →
About the job: dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
Facilitate food service. Clean tables; remove dirty dishes; replace soiled table linens; set tables; replenish supply of clean linens, silverware, glassware, and dishes; supply service bar with food; and serve items such as water, condiments, and coffee to patrons.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.3% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper make in Baltimore, MD?
The median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $37,540 a year, or about $18.05 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,490 and $38,390.
What is a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper’s take-home pay in Baltimore, MD?
On the median $37,540 salary, a single filer living in Maryland takes home about $30,924 a year ($2,577 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,420 in Maryland taxes in 2026.
Is Baltimore, MD a good place to work as a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $33,980. Local prices are 4.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,596 would in a typical U.S. city. Baltimore, MD ranks #7 of 41 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper afford rent in Baltimore, MD?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Baltimore, MD is $1,511 a month ($1,857 for two bedrooms) — 59% of a median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Baltimore, MD
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,760
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,420
- Bartender — $37,360
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,170
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,710
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,080
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $34,320
- Cooks, Fast Food — $33,290
- Dishwasher — $33,280
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $33,090