Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper Salary in San Diego, CA
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $35,960 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,179 take-home, or $2,515 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,135
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,230
- Medicare (1.45%)$521
- California income tax$428
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$467
- Take-home pay$30,179
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 San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,920 | $16.79 | $29,398 | $2,450 |
| 25th percentile | $35,460 | $17.05 | $29,803 | $2,484 |
| Median (50th) | $35,960 | $17.29 | $30,179 | $2,515 |
| 75th percentile | $40,290 | $19.37 | $33,428 | $2,786 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,920 | $28.33 | $47,172 | $3,931 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,960 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper's $30,179 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,972 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 1.8× 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
San Diego, CA ranks #20 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 |
| 20 | San Diego, CA | $35,960 | $30,179 | $26,972 |
*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
- Los Angeles, CA — $35,800
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper make in San Diego, CA?
The median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $35,960 a year, or about $17.29 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,460 and $40,290.
What is a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $35,960 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $30,179 a year ($2,515 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $895 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $33,980. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,972 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #20 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 San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 98% 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 San Diego, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $60,600
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $47,100
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,980
- Cooks, Restaurant — $46,440
- Cooks, Fast Food — $42,450
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,190
- Food Preparation Worker — $38,780
- Dishwasher — $38,530
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $38,260
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $36,330
- Bartender — $36,260
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $36,140