SOC 35-9011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers — Kentucky
Kentucky · 6 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Kentucky is $26,330 a year, trailing the national median of $33,980 by 22.5%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Kentucky is $26,330 a year, trailing the national median of $33,980 by 22.5%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $20,640 and $30,780. The lowest tenth earn under $15,870, while the highest tenth earn more than $37,330.
The area has 3,350 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.48 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Kentucky ranks number 45th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Louisville/Jefferson County records the highest median at $28,030. Of the 699 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 696th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $15,870 | −53.3% |
| 25th | $20,640 | −39.3% |
| Median (50th) | $26,330 | −22.5% |
| 75th | $30,780 | −9.4% |
| 90th | $37,330 | +9.9% |
| Mean | $26,350 | −22.5% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Kentucky
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville/Jefferson County | $28,030 | 1,570 | |
| 2 | Paducah | $27,030 | 120 | |
| 3 | Bowling Green | $26,200 | 150 | |
| 4 | Elizabethtown | $25,720 | 110 | |
| 5 | Lexington | $24,090 | 550 | |
| 6 | Owensboro | $23,350 | 120 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Kentucky run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $26,330 goes as far as $29,191 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 14.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$26,330as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$29,191US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $26,330 a year, 22.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $15,870 to $37,330 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,350 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 45th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Louisville/Jefferson County, at $28,030.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in Kentucky?
The median annual wage is $26,330, or $12.66 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $33,980, so pay in Kentucky is 22.5% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Kentucky earns more than $37,330 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $15,870 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Louisville/Jefferson County, at $28,030 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,350 jobs in this occupation in Kentucky. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. 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.
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