Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helper Salary in 2026

    SOC: 35-9011.00 · BLS OEWS 2026 · Updated March 2026
    Median Annual
    $32,670
    per year
    Salary Range
    $22K – $46K
    P10–P90
    Total Jobs
    522,010
    employed
    Job Growth
    +6.3%
    2024–2034
    Section 01

    How Much Do Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers Make?

    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers earn a median annual salary of $32,670 as of 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data. Wages span from $22,260 at the 10th percentile to $46,380 at the 90th percentile — a range of $24,120. The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $47,190.

    PercentileAnnual salary
    10th percentile$22,260
    25th percentile$27,830
    Median (50th)$32,670
    75th percentile$36,880
    90th percentile$46,380
    10th: $22,260Median: $32,67090th: $46,380
    Section 02

    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helper Salary by State

    Median annual salary across all 50 states. Click a column to sort.

    StateMedian salary
    Hawaiitop$47,190
    Washington$38,800
    District of Columbia$38,160
    Maine$37,470
    Vermont$36,920
    New York$36,780
    Arizona$35,870
    California$35,790
    Maryland$35,590
    Colorado$35,550
    Massachusetts$34,550
    Connecticut$33,900
    Oregon$33,420
    New Jersey$32,670
    North Dakota$32,510
    Virginia$31,300
    Florida$30,490
    Rhode Island$30,020
    Michigan$29,950
    Nebraska$29,690
    Illinois$29,490
    Tennessee$29,310
    Delaware$29,280
    Minnesota$28,980
    New Mexico$28,970
    Georgia$28,770
    Pennsylvania$28,650
    South Dakota$28,640
    Alaska$28,600
    Montana$28,590
    Indiana$28,550
    Missouri$28,470
    Idaho$28,420
    Kansas$28,320
    Ohio$28,170
    Utah$27,760
    Kentucky$27,450
    Louisiana$27,260
    Arkansas$27,100
    Oklahoma$26,890
    Texas$26,800
    Iowa$26,710
    West Virginia$26,700
    North Carolina$26,300
    Nevada$26,260
    Wisconsin$26,260
    South Carolina$24,840
    New Hampshire$24,040
    Alabama$22,290
    Wyoming$22,080
    Mississippi$21,860
    Section 03

    Highest-Paying Metros for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers

    Kahului-Wailuku, HI
    Highest paying
    $52,980
    top metro salary
    Hawaii
    $47,190
    $-5,790 vs highest
    Urban Honolulu, HI
    $44,990
    $-7,990 vs highest
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area
    $43,750
    $-9,230 vs highest
    Burlington-South Burlington, VT
    $42,600
    $-10,380 vs highest
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
    $42,170
    $-10,810 vs highest
    Boulder, CO
    $41,600
    $-11,380 vs highest
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
    $39,610
    $-13,370 vs highest
    Section 04

    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helper Salary by Experience

    Estimated salary ranges derived from BLS wage percentiles. Entry level corresponds to P10–P25, mid-career to the median, experienced to P75, and senior to P90+.

    Experience levelEstimated salary
    Entry level (0–2 yrs)~$22,260 – $27,830
    Mid career (3–7 yrs)~$32,670
    Experienced (8–15 yrs)~$36,880
    Senior (15+ yrs)$46,380+
    Section 05

    How to Earn More as a Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helper

    Location is the single biggest salary lever: Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in Kahului-Wailuku, HI earn $52,980 — $20,310 above the national median. Union membership, additional certifications, and supervisory experience are the most reliable paths to higher earnings in this field. Reaching the 75th percentile ($36,880) typically requires 5–10 years of experience plus specialization in a high-demand area.

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    Section 06

    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helper Salary vs Similar Careers

    CareerMedian salary
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helperthis career$32,670
    Food Service Manager$65,310
    Chefs and Head Cook$60,990
    Food Preparation and Serving Worker Supervisor$42,010
    Cooks, Fast Food$30,160

    Find out where you stand — free in 2 minutes

    PathScorer compares your skills to Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helper requirements and shows you what you already qualify for — plus which similar careers pay more for your background.

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    Free to try No sign-up Based on O*NET data
    Section 07

    Frequently Asked Questions

    SOC: 35-9011.00 · Data: BLS OEWS 2026, O*NET 29.1 · Salary figures are national medians unless otherwise noted.