Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$33,980
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$16.34
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$46,570
entry level starts ~$21,300
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 543,000 employed

How much do Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers make?

The median pay for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in the United States is $33,980 per year — about $16.34 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $21,300, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $46,570.

That is $27,410 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers salary range by percentile

Half of all Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers earn between $28,330 and $37,250 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$21,300$10.24
25th percentile (early career)$28,330$13.62
50th percentile (median)$33,980$16.34
75th percentile (experienced)$37,250$17.91
90th percentile (top earners)$46,570$22.39

Highest-paying states for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Hawaii leads the country for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers pay at $51,200 a year, followed by Washington ($41,420) and District of Columbia ($39,080). At the other end, Texas posts the lowest median at $21,550 — a gap of $29,650 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Hawaii$51,200$24.62+51%
2Washington$41,420$19.91+22%
3District of Columbia$39,080$18.79+15%
4Maine$38,560$18.54+13%
5Maryland$37,020$17.80+9%

Workforce and education

About 543,000 people work as Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in the United States. On qualifications: no college degree is required — most training happens on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers make in the United States?
The median Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers salary in the United States is $33,980 per year, or about $16.34 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $21,300, while the top 10% of earners make $46,570 or more.
How does Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers median of $33,980 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers the most?
Hawaii is the highest-paying state for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers, with a median salary of $51,200 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers need?
For most positions, no college degree is required — most training happens on the job, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers work in the United States?
About 543,000 people were employed as Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

Related salaries

Other food service roles with similar pay.

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$35,360
median pay · 294,000 employed

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$35,230
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Dishwasher

$34,810
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Cook, Fast Food

$30,890
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Cook, Short Order

$35,880
median pay · 139,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.