How to become a dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helper

Q: How do I become a dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helper?

The typical entry-level education is usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..

Q: How much does a dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helper make?

The median pay in the United States is $33,980 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025).

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.

Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.Typical entry-level education

$33,980Median pay a year

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

What dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers do

Serve ice water, coffee, rolls, or butter to patrons.
Clean up spilled food or drink or broken dishes and remove empty bottles and trash.
Carry trays from food counters to tables for cafeteria patrons.
Clean and polish counters, shelves, walls, furniture, or equipment in food service areas or other areas of restaurants and mop or vacuum floors.
Run cash registers.
Scrape and stack dirty dishes and carry dishes and other tableware to kitchens for cleaning.

Skills that matter most

Active Listening
Speaking
Monitoring
Critical Thinking
Reading Comprehension
Active Learning
Writing
Learning Strategies

Is dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helper a good career?

On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 33% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

Hawaii $51,200
Washington $41,420
District of Columbia $39,080
Maine $38,560
Maryland $37,020

Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.