Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $35,800 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,059 take-home, or $2,505 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,116
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,220
- Medicare (1.45%)$519
- California income tax$421
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$465
- Take-home pay$30,059
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% 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 Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,530 | $16.60 | $29,105 | $2,425 |
| 25th percentile | $34,940 | $16.80 | $29,413 | $2,451 |
| Median (50th) | $35,800 | $17.21 | $30,059 | $2,505 |
| 75th percentile | $37,560 | $18.06 | $31,379 | $2,615 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,570 | $23.83 | $40,341 | $3,362 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,800 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper's $30,059 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,468 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 about as common in Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).
Best-paying cities for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #23 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 |
| 23 | Los Angeles, CA | $35,800 | $30,059 | $26,468 |
*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.
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $41,710
- Sacramento, CA — $36,110
- San Francisco, CA — $39,310
- Riverside, CA — $34,590
- San Diego, CA — $35,960
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $35,800 a year, or about $17.21 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,940 and $37,560.
What is a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $35,800 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $30,059 a year ($2,505 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $887 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $33,980. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,468 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #23 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 Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 90% 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 Los Angeles, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $69,990
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,970
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $45,400
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,460
- Cooks, Short Order — $43,680
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,110
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,770
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $38,350
- Cooks, Fast Food — $38,000
- Dishwasher — $37,580
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $36,920
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $36,810