Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers Salary in the United States
As of May 2025, the median annual wage for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers in the United States was $33,980 ($16.34 per hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES survey.
Annual Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,300 | $10.24 |
| 25th | $28,330 | $13.62 |
| Median | $33,980 | $16.34 |
| 75th | $37,250 | $17.91 |
| 90th | $46,570 | $22.39 |
Quick Facts
- Occupational code: 35-9011
- Total U.S. employment: 542,750
- Jobs per 1,000: —
- Hourly salary breakdown
- All-state comparison
The numbers in context
For career planning: entry-level pay (10th percentile) is about $21,300, median pay is $33,980, and experienced pay (90th percentile) reaches $46,570.
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers Salary by State
The table below ranks every state by median annual wage. Click a state for detailed local data.
| State | Median Annual | Median Hourly | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $22,470 | $10.80 | -33.9% | 3,420 |
| Alaska | $27,040 | $13.00 | -20.4% | 860 |
| Arizona | $36,500 | $17.55 | +7.4% | 13,300 |
| Arkansas | $27,670 | $13.30 | -18.6% | 2,160 |
| California | $36,010 | $17.31 | +6.0% | 75,460 |
| Colorado | $36,790 | $17.69 | +8.3% | 8,460 |
| Connecticut | $34,540 | $16.61 | +1.6% | 5,810 |
| Delaware | $31,880 | $15.33 | -6.2% | 1,540 |
| District of Columbia | $39,080 | $18.79 | +15.0% | 4,130 |
| Florida | $33,280 | $16.00 | -2.1% | 50,400 |
| Georgia | $28,920 | $13.91 | -14.9% | 14,540 |
| Hawaii | $51,200 | $24.62 | +50.7% | 4,380 |
| Idaho | $27,810 | $13.37 | -18.2% | 1,520 |
| Illinois | $31,200 | $15.00 | -8.2% | 21,290 |
| Indiana | $28,320 | $13.62 | -16.7% | 10,220 |
| Iowa | $28,210 | $13.56 | -17.0% | 3,250 |
| Kansas | $26,300 | $12.65 | -22.6% | 2,960 |
| Kentucky | $26,330 | $12.66 | -22.5% | 3,350 |
| Louisiana | $26,780 | $12.88 | -21.2% | 4,810 |
| Maine | $38,560 | $18.54 | +13.5% | 1,540 |
| Maryland | $37,020 | $17.80 | +8.9% | 13,240 |
| Massachusetts | $35,380 | $17.01 | +4.1% | 11,510 |
| Michigan | $30,390 | $14.61 | -10.6% | 13,050 |
| Minnesota | $29,210 | $14.04 | -14.0% | 7,220 |
| Mississippi | $23,180 | $11.15 | -31.8% | 2,620 |
| Missouri | $31,850 | $15.31 | -6.3% | 11,590 |
| Montana | $27,510 | $13.23 | -19.0% | 1,150 |
| Nebraska | $30,690 | $14.76 | -9.7% | 2,160 |
| Nevada | $27,460 | $13.20 | -19.2% | 12,750 |
| New Hampshire | $26,290 | $12.64 | -22.6% | 1,510 |
| New Jersey | $34,170 | $16.43 | +0.6% | 16,490 |
| New Mexico | $29,360 | $14.12 | -13.6% | 2,960 |
| New York | $36,740 | $17.66 | +8.1% | 41,340 |
| North Carolina | $27,560 | $13.25 | -18.9% | 11,230 |
| North Dakota | $31,010 | $14.91 | -8.7% | 890 |
| Ohio | $29,400 | $14.14 | -13.5% | 13,670 |
| Oklahoma | $26,830 | $12.90 | -21.0% | 5,400 |
| Oregon | $36,800 | $17.69 | +8.3% | 3,910 |
| Pennsylvania | $29,310 | $14.09 | -13.7% | 20,800 |
| Rhode Island | $31,200 | $15.00 | -8.2% | 2,880 |
| South Carolina | $26,830 | $12.90 | -21.0% | 6,220 |
| South Dakota | $29,920 | $14.39 | -11.9% | 2,550 |
| Tennessee | $29,470 | $14.17 | -13.3% | 11,330 |
| Texas | $21,550 | $10.36 | -36.6% | 60,270 |
| Utah | $27,010 | $12.99 | -20.5% | 4,490 |
| Vermont | $34,120 | $16.40 | +0.4% | 0 |
| Virginia | $32,410 | $15.58 | -4.6% | 11,910 |
| Washington | $41,420 | $19.91 | +21.9% | 6,160 |
| West Virginia | $27,150 | $13.05 | -20.1% | 1,170 |
| Wisconsin | $27,080 | $13.02 | -20.3% | 7,220 |
| Wyoming | $24,600 | $11.83 | -27.6% | 650 |
Data source: BLS OES state file · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025
Related Occupations
- Bartenders — $34,340/yr
- Lawyers — $159,670/yr
- Computer User Support Specialists — $61,860/yr
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics — $50,620/yr
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers — $74,450/yr
- Computer and Information Systems Managers — $175,140/yr
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers?
The median annual wage for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers is $33,980 ($16.34 per hour), according to the BLS OES survey for May 2025.
Which state pays dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers the most?
Wages vary by state. Use the state table above to compare median annual pay across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
How many dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers are employed in the U.S.?
There are approximately 542,750 dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers employed nationally, per BLS OES.
How much do dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers make per hour?
The median hourly wage is $16.34. See the hourly salary page for the full percentile breakdown.