Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper Salary in San Jose, CA
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $41,710 a year — 23% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $34,494 take-home, or $2,875 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,825
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,586
- Medicare (1.45%)$605
- California income tax$658
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$542
- Take-home pay$34,494
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% 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 San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,910 | $18.71 | $32,393 | $2,699 |
| 25th percentile | $39,770 | $19.12 | $33,038 | $2,753 |
| Median (50th) | $41,710 | $20.05 | $34,494 | $2,875 |
| 75th percentile | $45,800 | $22.02 | $37,564 | $3,130 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,570 | $29.60 | $49,107 | $4,092 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $41,710 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper's $34,494 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,238 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 San Jose, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).
Best-paying cities for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #3 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 California
- Sacramento, CA — $36,110
- San Francisco, CA — $39,310
- Riverside, CA — $34,590
- San Diego, CA — $35,960
- Los Angeles, CA — $35,800
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper make in San Jose, CA?
The median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $41,710 a year, or about $20.05 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,770 and $45,800.
What is a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $41,710 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $34,494 a year ($2,875 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,200 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper?
Pay here is 23% above the national median of $33,980. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,238 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #3 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 San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 103% 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 San Jose, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $55,520
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $51,880
- Cooks, Fast Food — $47,220
- Cooks, Restaurant — $47,170
- Food Preparation Worker — $45,580
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $44,570
- Dishwasher — $43,960
- Bartender — $42,270
- Waiter and Waitress — $41,920