Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper Salary in Virginia Beach, VA
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median $29,330 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,874 take-home, or $2,073 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in Virginia Beach, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,340
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,818
- Medicare (1.45%)$425
- Virginia income tax$872
- Take-home pay$24,874
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro spans Virginia, North Carolina. 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 Virginia Beach, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,750 | $12.86 | $22,915 | $1,910 |
| 25th percentile | $28,200 | $13.56 | $24,025 | $2,002 |
| Median (50th) | $29,330 | $14.10 | $24,874 | $2,073 |
| 75th percentile | $36,670 | $17.63 | $30,350 | $2,529 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,980 | $21.63 | $36,549 | $3,046 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,330 buys in Virginia Beach, VA
Prices in Virginia Beach, VA are 2.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper's $24,874 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,397 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 Virginia Beach, VA 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
Virginia Beach, VA ranks #31 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 |
| 31 | Virginia Beach, VA | $29,330 | $24,874 | $25,397 |
*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 Virginia Beach, VA?
The median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $29,330 a year, or about $14.10 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,200 and $36,670.
What is a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper’s take-home pay in Virginia Beach, VA?
On the median $29,330 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $24,874 a year ($2,073 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $872 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Virginia Beach, VA a good place to work as a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $33,980. Local prices are 2.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,397 would in a typical U.S. city. Virginia Beach, VA ranks #31 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 Virginia Beach, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Virginia Beach, VA is $1,508 a month ($1,708 for two bedrooms) — 73% 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 Virginia Beach, VA
- Bartender — $46,700
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $41,800
- Waiter and Waitress — $39,020
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,440
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,280
- Food Preparation Worker — $32,580
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,780
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,670
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,380