SOC 35-9011 · May 2025 · United States
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
National figures, with pay broken out by state and metro area
The median wage for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers across the United States is $33,980 per year, measured over 542,750 jobs. The highest state median is in Hawaii, at $51,200.
National wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
The next ten years
Projected to grow faster than average
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- +6.3%
- Openings per year
- 99,600
- Typical entry-level education
- No formal educational credential
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Where the pay is highest for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
Pay for this occupation varies by 137.6% between the highest and lowest paying states with published data. Hawaii pays $51,200 and Texas pays $21,550.
| # | State | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $51,200 | 4,380 | |
| 2 | Washington | $41,420 | 6,160 | |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $39,080 | 4,130 | |
| 4 | Maine | $38,560 | 1,540 | |
| 5 | Maryland | $37,020 | 13,240 | |
| 6 | Oregon | $36,800 | 3,910 | |
| 7 | Colorado | $36,790 | 8,460 | |
| 8 | New York | $36,740 | 41,340 | |
| 9 | Arizona | $36,500 | 13,300 | |
| 10 | California | $36,010 | 75,460 |
States with the most Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers jobs
| # | State | Jobs | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 75,460 | $36,010 | |
| 2 | Texas | 60,270 | $21,550 | |
| 3 | Florida | 50,400 | $33,280 | |
| 4 | New York | 41,340 | $36,740 | |
| 5 | Illinois | 21,290 | $31,200 | |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 20,800 | $29,310 | |
| 7 | New Jersey | 16,490 | $34,170 | |
| 8 | Georgia | 14,540 | $28,920 | |
| 9 | Ohio | 13,670 | $29,400 | |
| 10 | Arizona | 13,300 | $36,500 |
Top-paying metro areas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului | $61,230 | 840 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu | $50,200 | 2,500 |
| 3 | Seattle | $45,120 | 3,630 |
| 4 | San Jose | $41,710 | 3,420 |
| 5 | San Francisco | $39,310 | 10,650 |
| 6 | Portland | $39,170 | 740 |
| 7 | Bremerton | $38,210 | 190 |
| 8 | Portland | $38,120 | 2,160 |
| 9 | Barnstable Town | $37,980 | 560 |
| 10 | Kennewick | $37,700 | 220 |
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.