Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper Salary in Nashville, TN
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median $29,520 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,899 take-home, or $2,158 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in Nashville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,362
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,830
- Medicare (1.45%)$428
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$25,899
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% 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 Nashville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,390 | $10.28 | $19,225 | $1,602 |
| 25th percentile | $23,260 | $11.18 | $20,765 | $1,730 |
| Median (50th) | $29,520 | $14.19 | $25,899 | $2,158 |
| 75th percentile | $36,410 | $17.50 | $31,435 | $2,620 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,780 | $18.64 | $33,340 | $2,778 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,520 buys in Nashville, TN
Prices in Nashville, TN are 3.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper's $25,899 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,884 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 Nashville, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers, adjusted for cost of living
Nashville, TN ranks #22 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 |
| 22 | Nashville, TN | $29,520 | $25,899 | $26,884 |
*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 Nashville, TN?
The median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $29,520 a year, or about $14.19 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $23,260 and $36,410.
What is a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper’s take-home pay in Nashville, TN?
On the median $29,520 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $25,899 a year ($2,158 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Nashville, TN a good place to work as a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $33,980. Local prices are 3.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,884 would in a typical U.S. city. Nashville, TN ranks #22 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 Nashville, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Nashville, TN is $1,530 a month ($1,685 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 Nashville, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,630
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,170
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,910
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,640
- Dishwasher — $34,380
- Cooks, Fast Food — $34,210
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,390
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,150
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,800
- Bartender — $28,190