Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper Salary in Providence, RI
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area earn a median $31,200 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,696 take-home, or $2,225 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in Providence, RI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,564
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,934
- Medicare (1.45%)$452
- Rhode Island income tax$553
- Take-home pay$26,696
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.75% state
The Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro spans Rhode Island, Massachusetts. 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 Providence, RI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $26,696 | $2,225 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 | $26,696 | $2,225 |
| Median (50th) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $26,696 | $2,225 |
| 75th percentile | $36,680 | $17.63 | $30,894 | $2,574 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,910 | $22.55 | $38,730 | $3,227 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Rhode Island resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,200 buys in Providence, RI
Prices in Providence, RI are 1.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.04× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper's $26,696 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,231 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Providence, RI has 1.4× 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
Providence, RI ranks #27 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 |
| 27 | Providence, RI | $31,200 | $26,696 | $26,231 |
*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 Providence, RI?
The median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA 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 $36,680.
What is a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper’s take-home pay in Providence, RI?
On the median $31,200 salary, a single filer living in Rhode Island takes home about $26,696 a year ($2,225 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $553 in Rhode Island taxes in 2026.
Is Providence, RI 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 1.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,231 would in a typical U.S. city. Providence, RI ranks #27 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 Providence, RI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Providence, RI is $1,423 a month ($1,774 for two bedrooms) — 64% 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 Providence, RI
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,640
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,460
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,250
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,750
- Bartender — $35,680
- Dishwasher — $34,640
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $33,700