Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper Salary in Denver, CO
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $36,880 a year — 9% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,899 take-home, or $2,575 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,246
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,287
- Medicare (1.45%)$535
- Colorado income tax$914
- Take-home pay$30,899
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
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 Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,820 | $14.82 | $26,296 | $2,191 |
| 25th percentile | $32,410 | $15.58 | $27,504 | $2,292 |
| Median (50th) | $36,880 | $17.73 | $30,899 | $2,575 |
| 75th percentile | $47,950 | $23.05 | $39,306 | $3,276 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,890 | $27.35 | $46,096 | $3,841 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,880 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper's $30,899 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,210 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper jobs are less concentrated in Denver, CO than nationally (location quotient 0.78), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #8 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 Denver, CO?
The median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $36,880 a year, or about $17.73 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $32,410 and $47,950.
What is a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $36,880 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $30,899 a year ($2,575 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $914 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper?
Pay here is 9% above the national median of $33,980. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,210 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #8 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 Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 68% 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 Denver, CO
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $52,520
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $45,070
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,370
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $39,850
- Waiter and Waitress — $39,650
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,470
- Dishwasher — $38,710
- Cooks, Fast Food — $38,530
- Bartender — $37,180
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $37,070
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $36,340