Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper Salary in Detroit, MI
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median $30,760 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,839 take-home, or $2,153 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in Detroit, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,511
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,907
- Medicare (1.45%)$446
- Michigan income tax$1,057
- Take-home pay$25,839
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Living in Detroit? City residents also pay Detroit’s city income tax — about $738 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $25,101 ($2,092 a month). Choose “Detroit” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
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 Detroit, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,960 | $12.48 | $22,136 | $1,845 |
| 25th percentile | $28,430 | $13.67 | $24,065 | $2,005 |
| Median (50th) | $30,760 | $14.79 | $25,839 | $2,153 |
| 75th percentile | $37,720 | $18.13 | $31,136 | $2,595 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,100 | $20.24 | $34,469 | $2,872 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,760 buys in Detroit, MI
Prices in Detroit, MI are 0.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 5% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper's $25,839 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,762 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 Detroit, MI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.01).
Best-paying cities for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers, adjusted for cost of living
Detroit, MI ranks #29 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 |
| 29 | Detroit, MI | $30,760 | $25,839 | $25,762 |
*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 Detroit, MI?
The median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $30,760 a year, or about $14.79 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,430 and $37,720.
What is a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper’s take-home pay in Detroit, MI?
On the median $30,760 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $25,839 a year ($2,153 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,057 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Detroit, MI a good place to work as a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper?
Pay here is 9% below the national median of $33,980. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,762 would in a typical U.S. city. Detroit, MI ranks #29 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 Detroit, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Detroit, MI is $1,128 a month ($1,413 for two bedrooms) — 52% 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 Detroit, MI
- Chef and Head Cook — $60,870
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,570
- Waiter and Waitress — $37,490
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,410
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,360
- Bartender — $36,780
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,170
- Dishwasher — $34,350
- Food Preparation Worker — $33,060
- Cooks, Fast Food — $29,810
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,590
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,290