Cafeteria Counter Attendant Salary in the United States
How much does a Cafeteria Counter Attendant make in the United States?
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Cafeteria Counter Attendant in the United States is $35,300 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $17.
However, a Cafeteria Counter Attendant's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $40,076
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $33,000 to $37,800
Key Factors That Influence Cafeteria Counter Attendant Salaries
A Cafeteria Counter Attendant's salary isn't a fixed number.
It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Cafeteria Counter Attendant Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Cafeteria Counter Attendant's salary.
As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases.
Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $34,716
Early Career (1-2 years): $35,487
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $37,016
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $37,240
Expert (over 8 years): $37,352
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Cafeteria Counter Attendant
$34,716
Intermediate Level Cafeteria Counter Attendant
$35,487
Senior Level Cafeteria Counter Attendant
$37,016
Specialist Level Cafeteria Counter Attendant
$37,240
Expert Level Cafeteria Counter Attendant
$37,352
$34,7160 yr
$35,487< 2 yrs
$37,0162-4 yrs
$37,2405-8 yrs
$37,352> 8 yrs
View as Table
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What Am I Worth?
How Do Cafeteria Counter Attendant Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work.
States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors
often pay more to attract Cafeteria Counter Attendants.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Top Paying Cities for Cafeteria Counter Attendants
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $44,500
San Francisco: $44,000
Oakland: $43,100
San Jose, CA$44,500
San Francisco, CA$44,000
Oakland, CA$43,100
New York, NY$40,600
Paramus, NJ$40,100
Queens Village, NY$40,100
Passaic, NJ$40,100
Bergenfield, NJ$40,100
Stamford, CT$40,000
Huntington, NY$40,000
Newark, NJ$39,700
Bridgeport, CT$39,600
Vallejo, CA$39,600
New Brunswick, NJ$39,600
Petaluma, CA$39,500
Middlesex, NJ$39,500
Santa Cruz, CA$39,400
Somerset, NJ$39,400
Boston, MA$39,200
Monterey, CA$39,100
Seattle, WA$39,000
Santa Rosa, CA$39,000
Los Angeles, CA$39,000
Juneau, AK$38,900
Washington, DC$38,800
Orange, CA$38,700
Anchorage, AK$38,600
Anaheim, CA$38,600
Santa Ana, CA$38,600
Long Beach, CA$38,600
Santa Maria, CA$38,400
Everett, WA$38,400
Danbury, CT$38,300
Bremerton, WA$38,300
Trenton, NJ$38,100
Santa Barbara, CA$38,100
San Diego, CA$38,100
New Suffolk, NY$38,100
Sacramento, CA$38,100
Tacoma, WA$38,100
Brockton, MA$38,000
Fairbanks, AK$37,900
Stockton, CA$37,800
Ventura, CA$37,800
Nashua, NH$37,800
Lompoc, CA$37,800
Lowell, MA$37,800
Modesto, CA$37,500
Poughkeepsie, NY$37,500
Olympia, WA$37,400
Kennewick, WA$37,400
New Haven, CT$37,400
New Bedford, MA$37,200
Riverside, CA$37,200
Richland, WA$37,200
Lawrence, MA$37,200
Hartford, CT$37,200
Bakersfield, CA$37,100
San Bernardino, CA$37,100
New Britain, CT$37,100
Atlantic City, NJ$37,100
New London, CT$37,100
Norwich, CT$37,100
Portsmouth, NH$37,100
Portland, OR$37,000
Boulder, CO$37,000
Worcester, MA$36,900
Minneapolis, MN$36,800
Philadelphia, PA$36,800
Honolulu, HI$36,700
Saint Paul, MN$36,700
Vineland, NJ$36,600
Providence, RI$36,500
Springfield, MA$36,400
Chicago, IL$36,400
Bellingham, WA$36,400
Baltimore, MD$36,400
Chico, CA$36,300
Pittsfield, MA$36,200
Manchester, NH$36,100
Spokane, WA$36,000
Denver, CO$36,000
Albany, NY$35,800
Troy, NY$35,800
Nassau, NY$35,700
Schenectady, NY$35,700
Wilmington, DE$35,700
Burlington, VT$35,600
Salem, OR$35,600
Portland, ME$35,500
Yakima, WA$35,500
Rochester, MN$35,400
Ann Arbor, MI$35,300
Detroit, MI$35,300
Allentown, PA$35,300
Fresno, CA$35,300
Reno, NV$35,300
Milwaukee, WI$35,300
Colorado Springs, CO$35,200
Syracuse, NY$35,200
Carson City, NV$35,200
Houston, TX$35,100
Eugene, OR$35,100
Gary, IN$35,100
Medford, OR$35,000
Galveston, TX$35,000
Bismarck, ND$35,000
Springfield, OR$35,000
Fort Collins, CO$34,900
Concord, NH$34,900
Austin, TX$34,900
Saint Cloud, MN$34,800
Mesa, AZ$34,800
Reading, PA$34,800
Phoenix, AZ$34,800
Dallas, TX$34,800
Utica, NY$34,700
Madison, WI$34,700
Rochester, NY$34,600
Des Moines, IA$34,600
Raleigh, NC$34,600
Atlanta, GA$34,500
Battle Creek, MI$34,500
Salt Lake City, UT$34,500
Lancaster, PA$34,500
Harrisburg, PA$34,400
Kansas City, MO$34,400
Kansas City, KS$34,400
Champaign, IL$34,400
Fort Worth, TX$34,400
Columbus, OH$34,400
Boca Raton, FL$34,400
Cincinnati, OH$34,300
Cleveland, OH$34,300
Las Vegas, NV$34,300
Richmond, VA$34,300
Pittsburgh, PA$34,300
Indianapolis, IN$34,300
Petersburg, VA$34,200
Huntsville, AL$34,200
Elkhart, IN$34,100
York, PA$34,100
Saint Louis, MO$34,100
Charlotte, NC$34,100
Racine, WI$34,100
Dayton, OH$34,100
Appleton, WI$34,100
Pueblo, CO$34,100
Lebanon, PA$34,100
Lansing, MI$34,100
Buffalo, NY$34,100
Rockford, IL$34,000
Fargo, ND$34,000
Elyria, OH$34,000
Springfield, IL$34,000
Binghamton, NY$34,000
Rock Hill, SC$34,000
Benton Harbor, MI$34,000
Toledo, OH$34,000
Lorain, OH$34,000
Beaumont, TX$34,000
Billings, MT$34,000
Gastonia, NC$34,000
Cheyenne, WY$33,900
Miami, FL$33,900
Grand Forks, ND$33,900
Fort Lauderdale, FL$33,900
Flagstaff, AZ$33,900
Duluth, MN$33,900
Bangor, ME$33,800
Cedar Rapids, IA$33,700
Durham, NC$33,700
Louisville, KY$33,700
Grand Rapids, MI$33,700
Hialeah, FL$33,700
Casper, WY$33,700
Akron, OH$33,600
Virginia Beach, VA$33,600
Scranton, PA$33,600
New Orleans, LA$33,600
Davenport, IA$33,500
Peoria, IL$33,500
Sarasota, FL$33,500
Nashville, TN$33,500
Omaha, NE$33,500
Green Bay, WI$33,500
Baton Rouge, LA$33,500
Charleston, SC$33,500
Jamestown, NY$33,500
Tucson, AZ$33,500
Port Arthur, TX$33,400
Evansville, IN$33,400
Bradenton, FL$33,400
Saint Petersburg, FL$33,400
Tampa, FL$33,400
Clearwater, FL$33,300
Santa Fe, NM$33,300
Orlando, FL$33,300
La Crosse, WI$33,200
Canton, OH$33,200
Albuquerque, NM$33,200
Newport News, VA$33,200
High Point, NC$33,100
Ogden, UT$33,100
Corpus Christi, TX$33,100
Norfolk, VA$33,100
Laramie, WY$33,100
Rock Island, IL$33,100
Saginaw, MI$33,100
Jacksonville, FL$33,100
Tulsa, OK$33,000
Waterloo, IA$33,000
Fort Myers, FL$33,000
Memphis, TN$33,000
Boise, ID$33,000
Salisbury, NC$33,000
Moline, IL$33,000
Spartanburg, SC$32,900
Lincoln, NE$32,900
Fort Wayne, IN$32,900
Provo, UT$32,900
Cedar Falls, IA$32,900
San Antonio, TX$32,800
Greensboro, NC$32,800
South Bend, IN$32,800
Savannah, GA$32,800
Muskegon, MI$32,800
Birmingham, AL$32,800
Winston Salem, NC$32,800
Anderson, IN$32,700
Lake Charles, LA$32,700
Lexington, KY$32,700
Tuscaloosa, AL$32,600
Springfield, OH$32,600
Wichita, KS$32,600
Columbia, SC$32,600
Greenville, SC$32,600
Augusta, GA$32,600
Lima, OH$32,600
Asheville, NC$32,500
Bloomington, IN$32,500
Knoxville, TN$32,400
Shreveport, LA$32,400
Roanoke, VA$32,300
Wilmington, NC$32,300
Topeka, KS$32,200
Frankfort, KY$32,200
Oklahoma City, OK$32,200
Chillicothe, OH$32,200
Longview, TX$32,200
Melbourne, FL$32,200
Amarillo, TX$32,100
Altoona, PA$32,100
Killeen, TX$32,100
Mobile, AL$32,100
Sioux Falls, SD$32,100
Terre Haute, IN$32,100
Fayetteville, AR$32,000
Chattanooga, TN$32,000
Sioux City, IA$32,000
Idaho Falls, ID$32,000
Lynchburg, VA$32,000
Pensacola, FL$31,900
Clarksville, TN$31,900
Daytona Beach, FL$31,900
Youngstown, OH$31,900
Lafayette, LA$31,900
Portsmouth, OH$31,900
Gainesville, FL$31,900
Little Rock, AR$31,900
Temple, TX$31,800
Hopkinsville, KY$31,700
Erie, PA$31,700
Florence, SC$31,700
Charleston, WV$31,700
Great Falls, MT$31,700
Helena, MT$31,600
Waco, TX$31,600
Macon, GA$31,600
Tallahassee, FL$31,600
Fayetteville, NC$31,600
Pine Bluff, AR$31,500
Vincennes, IN$31,500
Lubbock, TX$31,500
Alamogordo, NM$31,500
Greenville, MS$31,400
Huntington, WV$31,400
Jackson, MS$31,400
Rapid City, SD$31,400
Twin Falls, ID$31,400
Parkersburg, WV$31,300
Montgomery, AL$31,300
Wichita Falls, TX$31,300
Springfield, MO$31,300
Biloxi, MS$31,300
Sumter, SC$31,200
Columbus, GA$31,200
Monroe, LA$31,200
Johnstown, PA$31,200
Pascagoula, MS$31,100
Abilene, TX$31,100
Kingsport, TN$31,000
Albany, GA$31,000
Gulfport, MS$31,000
Alexandria, LA$30,900
Fort Smith, AR$30,800
El Paso, TX$30,700
Las Cruces, NM$30,600
Harlingen, TX$30,500
Pocatello, ID$30,500
Florence, AL$30,400
Brownsville, TX$30,400
Mcallen, TX$30,300
Dothan, AL$30,300
Columbus, MS$30,100
Altus, OK$29,900
Lawton, OK$29,800
Pierre, SD$29,700
What Skills Can Increase a Cafeteria Counter Attendant's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Customer Service (Mentioned in 20.74% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
Food Handling (Mentioned in 2.42% Job Postings): Food Handling means one or more operations of food production, manufacture, offering or displaying for sale, storage, preserving, wrapping, transportation, delivery, importation, exportation, or the licensing or approval for any of such activities.
Purchasing (Mentioned in 1.41% Job Postings): Purchasing refers to a business or organization attempting to acquire goods or services to accomplish its goals. Although there are several organizations that attempt to set standards in the purchasing process, processes can vary greatly between organizations. Typically the word “purchasing” is not used interchangeably with the word “procurement”, since procurement typically includes expediting, supplier quality, and transportation and logistics (T&L) in addition to purchasing.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Customer Service
20.74%
Food Handling
2.42%
Purchasing
1.41%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Cafeteria Counter Attendant's salary.
Products and Services: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Written Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Products and Services
$38,830
10%
Commitment
$38,477
9%
Written Communication
$38,124
8%
Outside Sales
$38,124
8%
Wholesale
$37,771
7%
Purchasing
$37,418
6%
Get Latest Data
Cafeteria Counter Attendant Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Cafeteria Counter Attendant salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $39,516.
While startup companies pay approximate $33,430.
Cafeteria Counter Attendant Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$33,430
Growth Stage
51~500
$35,356
Established
501~5000
$38,160
Enterprise
5000+
$39,516
Cafeteria Counter Attendant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Cafeteria Counter Attendant roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Financial Services and Aerospace & Defense
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average.
In contrast, Cafeteria Counter Attendant positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Transportation typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Cafeteria Counter Attendant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Cafeteria Counter Attendant
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services
$52,950
$25.0
50%
How Education impacts a Cafeteria Counter Attendant's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Cafeteria Counter Attendants enter the field with a No Diploma degree,
higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data,
the median salary for a Cafeteria Counter Attendant with a No Diploma is between
$30,733
and $32,687).
Cafeteria Counter Attendant Salaries by Degree Level
Understanding how a Cafeteria Counter Attendant's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$33,000
Average$35,300/year
$37,800
$2,750
Average$2,942/month
$3,150
$635
Average$679/week
$727
$16
Average$17/hour
$18
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$37,800
$3,150
$727
$18
Average
$35,300
$2,942
$679
$17
25th Percentile
$33,000
$2,750
$635
$16
Cafeteria Counter Attendant Salary Growth & Career Path
For a Cafeteria Counter Attendant, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Retail Sales Associate role.
This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to
$39,500 - a projected growth of
12%
over your current level.
Salaries of jobs related to Cafeteria Counter Attendant
Salaries for a Cafeteria Counter Attendant can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary increased from $36,395 in 2023
to around $36,477 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Cafeteria Counter Attendant salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Cafeteria Counter Attendant Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$36,395
2024
$36,663
2025
$36,477
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$36,395
2024
$36,663
2025
$36,477
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Cafeteria Counter Attendant
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Cafeteria Counter Attendant
Here are companies hiring for Cafeteria Counter Attendant and their salaries, click below for more details.
C
$128,509/per year
C R Bard Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
H
$124,697/per year
Henry Schein Canada
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$123,899/per year
Nordex Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$120,416/per year
Nipro Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$115,870/per year
Enovis
Biotechnology
the United States
A
$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy
Biotechnology
the United States
M
$112,110/per year
MiniMed Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug Development
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$110,229/per year
Life Technologies Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
Z
$106,224/per year
Zimmer Biomet
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$103,077/per year
Promontory Therapeutics
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$102,181/per year
Steris PLC
Biotechnology
the United States
G
$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicines
Biotechnology
the United States
R
$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLC
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$94,235/per year
Pleno Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$93,666/per year
Simulaids Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CAS
Biotechnology
the United States
O
$86,468/per year
Onward Technology
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$84,682/per year
Eyeco Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$84,523/per year
Paerosol
Biotechnology
the United States
I
$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$82,815/per year
Stateside PPE
Biotechnology
the United States
D
$82,041/per year
Digi Bio
Biotechnology
the United States
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FAQ about Cafeteria Counter Attendant
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Cafeteria Counter Attendant?
The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Cafeteria Counter Attendant roles,
with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
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