Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper Salary in Chicago, IL
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $31,200 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,850 take-home, or $2,154 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,564
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,934
- Medicare (1.45%)$452
- Illinois income tax$1,400
- Take-home pay$25,850
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. 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 Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| Median (50th) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| 75th percentile | $34,080 | $16.38 | $28,021 | $2,335 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,170 | $18.83 | $31,859 | $2,655 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,200 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper's $25,850 take-home pay has the buying power of $24,953 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 Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.15).
Best-paying cities for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #33 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 |
| 33 | Chicago, IL | $31,200 | $25,850 | $24,953 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper make in Chicago, IL?
The median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $31,200 a year, or about $15.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,200 and $34,080.
What is a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $31,200 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $25,850 a year ($2,154 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,400 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $33,980. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $24,953 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #33 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 Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 71% 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 Chicago, IL
- Chef and Head Cook — $60,770
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,650
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,930
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,290
- Dishwasher — $36,850
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,670
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,410
- Cooks, Fast Food — $35,360
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,630
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $31,720
- Waiter and Waitress — $31,200
- Bartender — $31,200