Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers · California

Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers Salary in California

Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in California earn a median annual wage of $36,010 —6.0% above the national median of $33,980. That ranks CA #10 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$36,010
Median hourly
$17.31
Entry level (P10)
$34,320
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$50,630
90th percentile
Employment
75,460
4.1 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+6.0%
U.S. $33,980

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$34,320
$34,820
$36,010
$39,930
$34,320$36,010$50,630
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $36,010.

Employment is 1.19× as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Hawaii$51,200$24.624,3802.00
2Washington$41,420$19.916,1600.50
3District of Columbia$39,080$18.794,1301.68
4Maine$38,560$18.541,5400.69
5Maryland$37,020$17.8013,2401.37
6Oregon$36,800$17.693,9100.57
7Colorado$36,790$17.698,4600.84
8New York$36,740$17.6641,3401.22
9Arizona$36,500$17.5513,3001.18
10California$36,010$17.3175,4601.19

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

OccupationCalifornia medianU.S. median
Fast Food and Counter Workers$42,280$31,200
Waiters and Waitresses$36,080$35,230
Cooks, Restaurant$44,880$37,390
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$46,980$44,080
Food Preparation Workers$39,350$35,320
Bartenders$36,220$34,340

Frequently asked questions

How much do dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers make in California?

The median annual wage for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers in California is $36,010, or $17.31 per hour. That is 6.0% above the national median of $33,980.

What is the entry-level dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $34,320 per year ($16.50/hour). The 25th percentile is $34,820.

How many people work as dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers in California?

About 75,460 people work in this occupation in California, or 4.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers?

California ranks #10 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.19x as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers the most?

Hawaii has the highest median wage at $51,200 per year, followed by Washington ($41,420) and District of Columbia ($39,080).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes