How much does a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper make?
The median dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper in the United States earns $33,980 per year, about $16.34 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 35-9011.
Dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary range
Pay for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $21,300 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $46,570. The average (mean) wage of $34,230 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $21,300 | $10.24 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $28,330 | $13.62 | |
| Median (50th) | $33,980 | $16.34 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $37,250 | $17.91 | |
| 90th percentile | $46,570 | $22.39 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers (SOC 35-9011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers earn the most in Hawaii at $51,200 a year, and the least in Texas at $21,550. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $51,200 | 4,380 |
| Washington | $41,420 | 6,160 |
| District of Columbia | $39,080 | 4,130 |
| Maine | $38,560 | 1,540 |
| Maryland | $37,020 | 13,240 |
| Oregon | $36,800 | 3,910 |
| Colorado | $36,790 | 8,460 |
| New York | $36,740 | 41,340 |
| Arizona | $36,500 | 13,300 |
| California | $36,010 | 75,460 |
| Massachusetts | $35,380 | 11,510 |
| Connecticut | $34,540 | 5,810 |
| New Jersey | $34,170 | 16,490 |
| Vermont | $34,120 | N/A |
| Florida | $33,280 | 50,400 |
| Virginia | $32,410 | 11,910 |
| Delaware | $31,880 | 1,540 |
| Missouri | $31,850 | 11,590 |
| Illinois | $31,200 | 21,290 |
| Rhode Island | $31,200 | 2,880 |
| North Dakota | $31,010 | 890 |
| Nebraska | $30,690 | 2,160 |
| Michigan | $30,390 | 13,050 |
| South Dakota | $29,920 | 2,550 |
| Tennessee | $29,470 | 11,330 |
| Ohio | $29,400 | 13,670 |
| New Mexico | $29,360 | 2,960 |
| Pennsylvania | $29,310 | 20,800 |
| Minnesota | $29,210 | 7,220 |
| Georgia | $28,920 | 14,540 |
| Indiana | $28,320 | 10,220 |
| Iowa | $28,210 | 3,250 |
| Idaho | $27,810 | 1,520 |
| Arkansas | $27,670 | 2,160 |
| North Carolina | $27,560 | 11,230 |
| Montana | $27,510 | 1,150 |
| Nevada | $27,460 | 12,750 |
| West Virginia | $27,150 | 1,170 |
| Wisconsin | $27,080 | 7,220 |
| Alaska | $27,040 | 860 |
| Utah | $27,010 | 4,490 |
| Oklahoma | $26,830 | 5,400 |
| South Carolina | $26,830 | 6,220 |
| Louisiana | $26,780 | 4,810 |
| Kentucky | $26,330 | 3,350 |
| Kansas | $26,300 | 2,960 |
| New Hampshire | $26,290 | 1,510 |
| Wyoming | $24,600 | 650 |
| Mississippi | $23,180 | 2,620 |
| Alabama | $22,470 | 3,420 |
| Texas | $21,550 | 60,270 |
State median wages for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers (SOC 35-9011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
The BLS projects employment of dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers to grow 5.3% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 546,600 jobs in 2025 moving toward 575,500 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 95,300 openings a year for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper
The typical entry-level education for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper earns
Employer, region, seniority, and in many cases tips shape take-home pay. Fine dining, large venues, and high cost cities lift the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Hawaii, $51,200) and the lowest (Texas, $21,550) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 542,750 people work as dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers in the United States. At $33,980 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary FAQ
How much does a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper is $16.34. The middle half of dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers earn between $13.62 and $17.91 per hour.
What is the highest dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers earn more than $46,570 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper make a year?
The median annual salary for a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper is $33,980. The average (mean) wage of $34,230 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper a well paid job?
At $33,980 a year, a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 542,750 people work as dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers in the United States.
Which state pays dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers the most?
Hawaii has the highest median salary for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers at $51,200 a year. Washington ($41,420) and District of Columbia ($39,080) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper a good career?
Employment of dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers is projected to grow 5.3% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 95,300 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a dining room and cafeteria attendant and bartender helper?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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