Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper Salary in Seattle, WA
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $45,120 a year — 33% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,434 take-home, or $3,203 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,234
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,797
- Medicare (1.45%)$654
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$38,434
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 Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,520 | $17.56 | $31,524 | $2,627 |
| 25th percentile | $38,500 | $18.51 | $33,115 | $2,760 |
| Median (50th) | $45,120 | $21.69 | $38,434 | $3,203 |
| 75th percentile | $49,080 | $23.60 | $41,616 | $3,468 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,860 | $31.18 | $54,295 | $4,525 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,120 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper's $38,434 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,584 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 less concentrated in Seattle, WA than nationally (location quotient 0.50), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #2 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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper make in Seattle, WA?
The median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $45,120 a year, or about $21.69 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,500 and $49,080.
What is a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $45,120 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $38,434 a year ($3,203 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper?
Pay here is 33% above the national median of $33,980. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,584 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #2 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 Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 63% 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 Seattle, WA
- Chef and Head Cook — $80,330
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $61,610
- Bartender — $58,180
- Waiter and Waitress — $57,280
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $51,530
- Cooks, Restaurant — $47,730
- Cooks, Fast Food — $44,030
- Food Preparation Worker — $43,830
- Dishwasher — $42,750
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $40,640
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $39,150
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $38,430