Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper Salary
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers earn a median $33,980 a year nationally. Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
U.S. median
$33,980
$16.34 per hour
Range
$21,300 – $46,570
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
542,750
across the U.S.
▲4.0%
Pay trend: The median for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers in the U.S. rose from $32,670 (May 2024) to $33,980 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 1.6%.
What dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers do
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)
- Openings per year
- 95,300
Employment of dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers is projected to grow 5.3% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 95,300 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$29,483
per year · effective tax rate 13.2%
$2,457Monthly
$1,228Twice a month
$1,134Every 2 weeks
$14.17Hourly
- Federal income tax$1,898
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,107
- Medicare (1.45%)$493
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$29,483
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,300 | $10.24 | $19,151 |
| 25th percentile | $28,330 | $13.62 | $24,940 |
| Median (50th) | $33,980 | $16.34 | $29,483 |
| 75th percentile | $37,250 | $17.91 | $32,110 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,570 | $22.39 | $39,599 |
Best cities for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $50,200 | $40,217 | $36,245 | 2,500 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $45,120 | $38,434 | $34,584 | 3,630 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $41,710 | $34,494 | $31,238 | 3,420 |
| 4 | Buffalo, NY | $35,140 | $29,114 | $30,377 | 2,490 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $36,960 | $31,162 | $30,162 | 9,850 |
| 6 | Jacksonville, FL | $34,290 | $29,732 | $29,886 | 2,610 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $37,540 | $30,924 | $29,596 | 5,950 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $36,880 | $30,899 | $29,210 | 4,360 |
| 9 | Orlando, FL | $33,500 | $29,097 | $28,690 | 9,390 |
| 10 | St. Louis, MO | $31,930 | $27,272 | $28,681 | 6,460 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $37,260 | $31,049 | $28,515 | 13,800 |
| 12 | Sacramento, CA | $36,110 | $30,291 | $28,397 | 3,610 |
| 13 | San Francisco, CA | $39,310 | $32,693 | $28,278 | 10,650 |
| 14 | Kansas City, MO | $30,200 | $25,964 | $28,056 | 3,300 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $30,000 | $26,242 | $27,488 | 2,860 |
| 16 | Cleveland, OH | $29,400 | $25,777 | $27,445 | 2,610 |
| 17 | Cincinnati, OH | $29,890 | $26,157 | $27,427 | 2,740 |
| 18 | Riverside, CA | $34,590 | $29,150 | $27,386 | 7,510 |
| 19 | New York, NY | $36,980 | $30,494 | $27,090 | 37,600 |
| 20 | San Diego, CA | $35,960 | $30,179 | $26,972 | 9,620 |
| 21 | Tampa, FL | $31,150 | $27,209 | $26,969 | 6,240 |
| 22 | Nashville, TN | $29,520 | $25,899 | $26,884 | 3,990 |
| 23 | Los Angeles, CA | $35,800 | $30,059 | $26,468 | 24,860 |
| 24 | Boston, MA | $34,780 | $28,607 | $26,423 | 8,890 |
| 25 | Philadelphia, PA | $32,220 | $27,080 | $26,405 | 10,990 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Urban Honolulu, HI — $50,200
- Seattle, WA — $45,120
- San Jose, CA — $41,710
- San Francisco, CA — $39,310
- Baltimore, MD — $37,540
- Washington, DC — $37,260
- New York, NY — $36,980
- Phoenix, AZ — $36,960
- Denver, CO — $36,880
- Sacramento, CA — $36,110
- San Diego, CA — $35,960
- Los Angeles, CA — $35,800
- Buffalo, NY — $35,140
- Boston, MA — $34,780
- Miami, FL — $34,710
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $51,200 | +8.5% | $40,949 | $29,890 – $76,960 | 4,380 |
| Washington | $41,420 | +6.8% | $35,461 | $34,890 – $60,300 | 6,160 |
| District of Columbia | $39,080 | +2.4% | $32,402 | $36,400 – $58,830 | 4,130 |
| Maine | $38,560 | +2.9% | $31,718 | $31,200 – $62,080 | 1,540 |
| Maryland | $37,020 | +4.0% | $30,531 | $31,840 – $45,930 | 13,240 |
| Oregon | $36,800 | +10.1% | $29,358 | $31,200 – $45,810 | 3,910 |
| Colorado | $36,790 | +3.5% | $30,830 | $30,800 – $56,890 | 8,460 |
| New York | $36,740 | −0.1% | $30,314 | $33,040 – $59,080 | 41,340 |
| Arizona | $36,500 | +1.8% | $30,804 | $30,950 – $55,580 | 13,300 |
| California | $36,010 | +0.6% | $30,216 | $34,320 – $50,630 | 75,460 |
| Massachusetts | $35,380 | +2.4% | $29,059 | $31,200 – $50,760 | 11,510 |
| Connecticut | $34,540 | +1.9% | $29,304 | $34,010 – $47,100 | 5,810 |
| New Jersey | $34,170 | +4.6% | $29,125 | $32,220 – $45,630 | 16,490 |
| Vermont | $34,120 | −7.6% | $28,886 | $29,470 – $46,080 | — |
| Florida | $33,280 | +9.2% | $28,920 | $27,590 – $45,460 | 50,400 |
| Virginia | $32,410 | +3.5% | $27,172 | $27,370 – $46,360 | 11,910 |
| Delaware | $31,880 | +8.9% | $26,703 | $31,200 – $38,450 | 1,540 |
| Missouri | $31,850 | +11.9% | $27,212 | $28,600 – $39,150 | 11,590 |
| Illinois | $31,200 | +5.8% | $25,850 | $31,200 – $38,110 | 21,290 |
| Rhode Island | $31,200 | +3.9% | $26,696 | $31,200 – $47,170 | 2,880 |
| North Dakota | $31,010 | −4.6% | $27,097 | $21,110 – $37,320 | 890 |
| Nebraska | $30,690 | +3.4% | $26,292 | $28,080 – $39,900 | 2,160 |
| Michigan | $30,390 | +1.5% | $25,558 | $25,960 – $44,180 | 13,050 |
| South Dakota | $29,920 | +4.5% | $26,221 | $27,110 – $37,960 | 2,550 |
| Tennessee | $29,470 | +0.5% | $25,859 | $21,220 – $37,420 | 11,330 |
| Ohio | $29,400 | +4.4% | $25,777 | $22,900 – $39,070 | 13,670 |
| New Mexico | $29,360 | +1.3% | $25,440 | $25,750 – $38,280 | 2,960 |
| Pennsylvania | $29,310 | +2.3% | $24,831 | $17,890 – $38,580 | 20,800 |
| Minnesota | $29,210 | +0.8% | $24,906 | $23,350 – $38,310 | 7,220 |
| Georgia | $28,920 | +0.5% | $24,539 | $17,720 – $39,080 | 14,540 |
| Indiana | $28,320 | −0.8% | $24,126 | $20,610 – $37,280 | 10,220 |
| Iowa | $28,210 | +5.6% | $24,421 | $16,980 – $35,460 | 3,250 |
| Idaho | $27,810 | −2.1% | $24,146 | $16,770 – $37,430 | 1,520 |
| Arkansas | $27,670 | +2.1% | $23,530 | $24,230 – $37,150 | 2,160 |
| North Carolina | $27,560 | +4.8% | $23,715 | $15,920 – $37,870 | 11,230 |
| Montana | $27,510 | −3.8% | $23,728 | $21,950 – $38,350 | 1,150 |
| Nevada | $27,460 | +4.6% | $24,223 | $24,960 – $47,320 | 12,750 |
| West Virginia | $27,150 | +1.7% | $23,297 | $21,300 – $44,980 | 1,170 |
| Wisconsin | $27,080 | +3.1% | $23,476 | $16,800 – $38,440 | 7,220 |
| Alaska | $27,040 | −5.5% | $23,877 | $24,770 – $35,640 | 860 |
| Utah | $27,010 | −2.7% | $23,603 | $17,870 – $39,510 | 4,490 |
| Oklahoma | $26,830 | −0.2% | $23,043 | $17,990 – $36,540 | 5,400 |
| South Carolina | $26,830 | +8.0% | $23,252 | $17,100 – $36,780 | 6,220 |
| Louisiana | $26,780 | −1.8% | $23,246 | $16,080 – $39,770 | 4,810 |
| Kentucky | $26,330 | −4.1% | $22,489 | $15,870 – $37,330 | 3,350 |
| Kansas | $26,300 | −7.1% | $22,564 | $17,120 – $38,050 | 2,960 |
| New Hampshire | $26,290 | +9.4% | $23,260 | $17,200 – $38,410 | 1,510 |
| Wyoming | $24,600 | +11.4% | $21,868 | $18,520 – $42,660 | 650 |
| Mississippi | $23,180 | +6.0% | $20,504 | $16,880 – $30,840 | 2,620 |
| Alabama | $22,470 | +0.8% | $19,256 | $16,650 – $34,320 | 3,420 |
| Texas | $21,550 | −19.6% | $19,356 | $15,710 – $35,540 | 60,270 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dishwasher | $34,810 | No formal educational credential | -1.0% |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,840 | No formal educational credential | +5.5% |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | No formal educational credential | +3.4% |
| Bartender | $34,340 | No formal educational credential | +5.0% |
| Waiter and Waitress | $35,230 | No formal educational credential | +2.0% |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,320 | No formal educational credential | -3.0% |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,360 | No formal educational credential | +4.5% |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,880 | No formal educational credential | -5.2% |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $31,200 | No formal educational credential | +5.8% |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,890 | No formal educational credential | +0.6% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper make?
The national median salary for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers is $33,980 a year ($16.34 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $21,300 and the top 10% earn over $46,570. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers the most?
Hawaii has the highest median pay at $51,200. After taxes and local prices, Urban Honolulu, HI offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers are there in the U.S.?
About 542,750 people work as dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers nationwide.
All 41 cities
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Buffalo, NY
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Houston, TX
- Indianapolis, IN
- Jacksonville, FL
- Kansas City, MO
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- Miami, FL
- Minneapolis, MN
- Nashville, TN
- New York, NY
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Orlando, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Providence, RI
- Riverside, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Seattle, WA
- St. Louis, MO
- Tampa, FL
- Urban Honolulu, HI
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Washington, DC