Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers salary in California
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in California earn a median of $36,010 a year ($17.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 75,460 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,630 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $33,980. California ranks 10th of 51 states for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers pay. There are 4.1 dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $40,660, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| 25th percentile | $34,820 | $16.74 |
| Median | $36,010 | $17.31 |
| 75th percentile | $39,930 | $19.20 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,630 | $24.34 |
| Average (mean) | $40,660 | $19.55 |
Half of dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,000.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,500.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,385 |
| Weekly | $692.50 |
| Hourly | $17.31 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $36,010 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $41,710 | 3,420 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $39,310 | 10,650 |
| Napa, CA | $37,470 | 870 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $36,750 | 1,080 |
| Vallejo, CA | $36,460 | 550 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $36,110 | 3,610 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $35,960 | 9,620 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $35,800 | 24,860 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $35,640 | 490 |
| Salinas, CA | $35,600 | 1,170 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $35,110 | 1,260 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $34,970 | 1,740 |
| Modesto, CA | $34,870 | 680 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $34,730 | 1,090 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $34,590 | 70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $34,590 | 7,510 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $34,510 | 860 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $34,320 | 880 |
| Chico, CA | $34,320 | 330 |
| El Centro, CA | $34,320 | 140 |
| Fresno, CA | $34,320 | 1,330 |
| Merced, CA | $34,320 | 170 |
| Redding, CA | $34,320 | 270 |
| Visalia, CA | $34,320 | 380 |
| Yuba City, CA | $34,320 | 140 |
Highest-paying states for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $51,200 |
| Washington | $41,420 |
| District of Columbia | $39,080 |
| Maine | $38,560 |
| Maryland | $37,020 |
| Oregon | $36,800 |
| Colorado | $36,790 |
| New York | $36,740 |
| Arizona | $36,500 |
| California | $36,010 |
See Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Dishwasher | $37,870 | $18.21 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,640 | $17.62 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,910 | $17.75 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $42,280 | $20.33 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,980 | $22.59 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $42,050 | $20.21 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,350 | $18.92 |
| Bartender | $36,220 | $17.41 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $39,010 | $18.75 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,500 | $31.01 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,390 | $22.31 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,930 | $20.64 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-9011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers make in California?
The median salary for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers in California is $36,010 a year, or $17.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers make in California?
The top 10% of dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers in California earn at least $50,630 a year. The top 25% earn $39,930 or more.
What is the starting pay for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,320 a year, and a quarter of dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers earn $34,820 or less.
How many dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers work in California?
About 75,460 dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.