Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper Salary in New York, NY
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $36,980 a year — 9% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,494 take-home, or $2,541 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,258
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,293
- Medicare (1.45%)$536
- New York income tax$1,400
- Take-home pay$30,494
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $1,010 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $29,483 ($2,457 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
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 New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,900 | $15.82 | $27,436 | $2,286 |
| 25th percentile | $33,990 | $16.34 | $28,253 | $2,354 |
| Median (50th) | $36,980 | $17.78 | $30,494 | $2,541 |
| 75th percentile | $46,350 | $22.28 | $37,516 | $3,126 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,430 | $28.57 | $47,320 | $3,943 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,980 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper's $30,494 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,090 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 New York, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.13).
Best-paying cities for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #19 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 |
| 19 | New York, NY | $36,980 | $30,494 | $27,090 |
*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 New York
- Buffalo, NY — $35,140
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper make in New York, NY?
The median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $36,980 a year, or about $17.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,990 and $46,350.
What is a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $36,980 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $30,494 a year ($2,541 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,400 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY 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 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,090 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #19 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 New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 94% 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 New York, NY
- Chef and Head Cook — $71,780
- Bartender — $61,220
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $48,690
- Waiter and Waitress — $47,610
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $46,870
- Cooks, Restaurant — $43,740
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $39,120
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $36,500
- Cooks, Fast Food — $35,780
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,670
- Dishwasher — $35,670
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $35,420