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.
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
SOC: 35-9011 O*NET: 35-9011.00
Median Salary
$33,980
per year
Job Growth
📈 6.3%
Faster (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
99.6
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or less
Job Zone 1
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.
What does a Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$21,300
10th percentile
Early Career
$28,330
25th percentile
Median
$33,980
50th percentile
Experienced
$37,250
75th percentile
Top Earners
$46,570
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$21,300
25th
$28,330
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$33,980
Mean: $34,230
75th
$37,250
90th
$46,570
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $25,270 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $28,330 and $37,250
- •Salary spread is 26.3% around the median, showing moderate variation
- •Total national employment: 542,750 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Medium Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:527,400
Top Industries
Food Services and Drinking Places72.4%
Restaurants and Other Eating Places64.9%
Full-Service Restaurants60.2%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:+6.3%
Annual Openings:99,600
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)527,400
Current
2034 (Projected)560,600
+6.3%
+33,100
Employment Change
+6.3%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: As fast as average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 50 locations
California
75,460 jobs$36,0101.19x
Florida
50,400 jobs$33,2801.45x
New York
41,340 jobs$36,7401.22x
Illinois
21,290 jobs$31,2001.00x
Pennsylvania
20,800 jobs$29,3100.98x
New Jersey
16,490 jobs$34,1701.10x
Georgia
14,540 jobs$28,9200.85x
Ohio
13,670 jobs$29,4000.71x
Arizona
13,300 jobs$36,5001.18x
Maryland
13,240 jobs$37,0201.37x
Michigan
13,050 jobs$30,3900.85x
Nevada
12,750 jobs$27,4602.35x
Virginia
11,910 jobs$32,4100.83x
Missouri
11,590 jobs$31,8501.13x
Massachusetts
11,510 jobs$35,3800.91x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025
Key Growth Factors
- •Average growth expected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Coordination
100%
#2
Customer and Personal Service
100%
#3
Trunk Strength
100%
#4
Stamina
92%
#5
Manual Dexterity
82%
#6
Food Production
80%
#7
Arm-Hand Steadiness
74%
#8
Service Orientation
70%
#9
Near Vision
66%
#10
English Language
60%
Skills Overview
Coordination
advanced5.0
100%
Customer and Personal Service
advanced5.0
100%
Trunk Strength
advanced5.0
100%
Stamina
advanced4.6
92%
Manual Dexterity
intermediate4.1
82%
Food Production
intermediate4.0
80%
Arm-Hand Steadiness
intermediate3.7
74%
Service Orientation
intermediate3.5
70%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Coordination
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Customer and Personal Service
advancedImportance100%
knowledge
5.0/5.0
Trunk Strength
advancedImportance100%
abilities
5.0/5.0
Stamina
advancedImportance92%
abilities
4.6/5.0
Manual Dexterity
intermediateImportance82%
abilities
4.1/5.0
Food Production
intermediateImportance80%
knowledge
4.0/5.0
Arm-Hand Steadiness
intermediateImportance74%
abilities
3.7/5.0
Service Orientation
intermediateImportance70%
skills
3.5/5.0
Near Vision
intermediateImportance66%
abilities
3.3/5.0
English Language
intermediateImportance60%
knowledge
3.0/5.0
Speech Clarity
basicImportance58%
abilities
2.9/5.0
Extent Flexibility
basicImportance48%
abilities
2.4/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Fast Food and Counter Workers75%
3 shared skills
Cooks, Fast Food67%
2 shared skills
Baggage Porters and Bellhops60%
3 shared skills
Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers60%
3 shared skills
Animal Caretakers50%
3 shared skills
Cooks, Short Order50%
3 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Coordination
- ✓Customer and Personal Service
- ✓Food Production
Learn on the Job:
- →English Language
- →Near Vision
- →Speech Clarity
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Coordination
- ✓Customer and Personal Service
- ✓Food Production
- ✓Trunk Strength
- ✓Stamina
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Customer and Personal Service
- ★Food Production
- ★Trunk Strength
- ★Stamina
- ★Manual Dexterity
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
Technology Intensity
Medium
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires intermediate digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Office productivity softwareIndustry-specific applicationsBasic data entry and managementDigital communication tools
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Microsoft Windows
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Excel
Facebook
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
HIGH
👥
Team Orientation
CONSTANT TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
CONSTANT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet high physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy constant team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
21
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (18)Operations & Execution (1)Documentation & Record-Keeping (2)
1
Wipe tables or seats with dampened cloths or replace dirty tablecloths.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Set tables with clean linens, condiments, or other supplies.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities97% perform98%
3
Scrape and stack dirty dishes and carry dishes and other tableware to kitchens for cleaning.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities94% perform96%
4
Clean up spilled food or drink or broken dishes and remove empty bottles and trash.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities91% perform94%
5
Perform serving, cleaning, or stocking duties in establishments, such as cafeterias or dining rooms, to facilitate customer service.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Operations & Execution88% perform92%
6
Maintain adequate supplies of items, such as clean linens, silverware, glassware, dishes, or trays.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping85% perform90%
7
Serve ice water, coffee, rolls, or butter to patrons.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities82% perform88%
8
Fill beverage or ice dispensers.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities79% perform86%
9
Stock cabinets or serving areas with condiments and refill condiment containers.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities76% perform84%
10
Locate items requested by customers.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •33% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers professionals typically have a RCS Holland code and highly value relationships
RRealistic
CConventional
SSocial
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
Self-Control
CriticalSelf-Control
Importance Level4.53
Cooperation
Very ImportantCooperation
Importance Level4.40
Dependability
Very ImportantDependability
Importance Level4.35
Social Orientation
Very ImportantSocial Orientation
Importance Level4.34
Integrity
Very ImportantIntegrity
Importance Level4.25
Stress Tolerance
Very ImportantStress Tolerance
Importance Level4.21
Complete Work Styles Profile
Self-Control
4.5
Cooperation
4.4
Dependability
4.3
Social Orientation
4.3
Integrity
4.3
Stress Tolerance
4.2
Adaptability/Flexibility
4.1
Attention to Detail
4.1
Initiative
4.0
Concern for Others
3.9
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
High school diploma or less
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED
Preparation Level
Job Zone 1
Little or No Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience needed
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:High school diploma or less
These occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed.
Training:
Short demonstration or on-the-job training
💼 Experience Requirement
Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience needed
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • On-the-job training is typical
- • Tasks can be learned within a few days or weeks
- • Basic skills development
1
Job Zone One: Little or No Preparation Needed
These occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed.
On-the-job training is typicalTasks can be learned within a few days or weeksBasic skills development
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Explore educational programs that can help you become a Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers.
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