Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper Salary in Riverside, CA
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $34,590 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,150 take-home, or $2,429 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,971
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,145
- Medicare (1.45%)$502
- California income tax$373
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$450
- Take-home pay$29,150
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 Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,320 | $16.50 | $28,948 | $2,412 |
| 25th percentile | $34,320 | $16.50 | $28,948 | $2,412 |
| Median (50th) | $34,590 | $16.63 | $29,150 | $2,429 |
| 75th percentile | $35,870 | $17.25 | $30,111 | $2,509 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,220 | $24.63 | $41,547 | $3,462 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,590 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper's $29,150 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,386 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Riverside, CA 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
Riverside, CA ranks #18 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 |
| 18 | Riverside, CA | $34,590 | $29,150 | $27,386 |
*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
- San Diego, CA — $35,960
- Los Angeles, CA — $35,800
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper make in Riverside, CA?
The median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $34,590 a year, or about $16.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,320 and $35,870.
What is a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $34,590 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $29,150 a year ($2,429 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $823 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $33,980. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,386 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #18 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 Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 73% 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 Riverside, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $64,480
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,990
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $44,470
- Cooks, Fast Food — $42,480
- Cooks, Restaurant — $42,450
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,280
- Food Preparation Worker — $38,420
- Dishwasher — $36,710
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $35,260
- Bartender — $34,840
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $34,830
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,800