Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks
SOC 35-9011 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data
Median Annual Salary
$33,987
$16.34/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers is $33,987 per year ($16.34/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $28,330 and $37,253 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $46,571 per year. There are approximately 542,750 dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
Facilitate food service. Clean tables; remove dirty dishes; replace soiled table linens; set tables; replenish supply of clean linens, silverware, glassware, and dishes; supply service bar with food; and serve items such as water, condiments, and coffee to patrons.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+6.3%
Faster than average
Annual openings
100K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
527K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
3% from new growth97% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
No formal educational credential
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Restaurants and Other Eating Places
NAICS 722500
352K
$32,240
Traveler Accommodation
NAICS 721100
58K
$34,930
Elementary and Secondary Schools
NAICS 611100
29K
$35,530
Special Food Services
NAICS 722300
26K
$35,370
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
NAICS 722400
15K
$32,220
Wage range across top 5 industries: $32,220 to $35,530 (10% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$10.24
$21,299
P25
$13.62
$28,330
P50MEDIAN
$16.34
$33,987
P75
$17.91
$37,253
P90
$22.39
$46,571
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · retail sector
Active
Openings Rate
4.6%
Quits Rate
3.1%
Retail openings rose to 737K (+52K) in March, rate up to 4.6%. Hires increased to 684K (+73K). Frontline turnover persists with quit rate at 3.1%.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers salary?
The national median salary for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers is $33,987 per year ($16.34/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $28,330 and $37,253 annually.
How much do top-earning dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers make?
The 90th percentile salary for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers is $46,571 per year ($22.39/hr). The 75th percentile is $37,253 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers?
Entry-level Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers (10th percentile) earn approximately $21,299 per year ($10.24/hr). The 25th percentile is $28,330 per year.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
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