Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper Salary in Buffalo, NY
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $35,140 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,114 take-home, or $2,426 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in Buffalo, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,037
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,179
- Medicare (1.45%)$510
- New York income tax$1,301
- Take-home pay$29,114
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% 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 Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,240 | $15.50 | $26,941 | $2,245 |
| 25th percentile | $33,040 | $15.88 | $27,540 | $2,295 |
| Median (50th) | $35,140 | $16.89 | $29,114 | $2,426 |
| 75th percentile | $38,590 | $18.55 | $31,700 | $2,642 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,650 | $22.91 | $38,491 | $3,208 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,140 buys in Buffalo, NY
Prices in Buffalo, NY are 4.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 19% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper's $29,114 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,377 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Buffalo, NY 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
Buffalo, NY ranks #4 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 |
*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
- New York, NY — $36,980
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper make in Buffalo, NY?
The median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $35,140 a year, or about $16.89 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,040 and $38,590.
What is a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $35,140 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $29,114 a year ($2,426 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,301 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $33,980. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,377 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #4 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 Buffalo, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Buffalo, NY is $1,139 a month ($1,343 for two bedrooms) — 47% 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 Buffalo, NY
- Bartender — $46,920
- Waiter and Waitress — $46,580
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,720
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,060
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,700
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,560