How much does a Cafeteria Assistant make in the United States?
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Cafeteria Assistant in the United States is $28,226 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $14.
However, a Cafeteria Assistant's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $32,018
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $25,880 to $30,211
Key Factors That Influence Cafeteria Assistant Salaries
A Cafeteria Assistant'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 Assistant Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Cafeteria Assistant'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): $28,323
Early Career (1-2 years): $28,714
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $29,386
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $29,478
Expert (over 8 years): $29,630
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Cafeteria Assistant
$28,323
Intermediate Level Cafeteria Assistant
$28,714
Senior Level Cafeteria Assistant
$29,386
Specialist Level Cafeteria Assistant
$29,478
Expert Level Cafeteria Assistant
$29,630
$28,3230 yr
$28,714< 2 yrs
$29,3862-4 yrs
$29,4785-8 yrs
$29,630> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Cafeteria Assistant 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 Assistants.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $31,252.
California: $31,133.
Massachusetts: $30,718.
District of Columbia$31,252
California$31,133
Massachusetts$30,718
Washington$30,605
New Jersey$30,594
Alaska$30,554
Connecticut$30,165
New York$30,007
Hawaii$29,502
Rhode Island$29,265
Maryland$29,104
Minnesota$28,883
Colorado$28,799
Illinois$28,771
Oregon$28,663
Delaware$28,584
New Hampshire$28,535
Virginia$28,423
Pennsylvania$28,099
Nevada$27,935
North Dakota$27,881
Michigan$27,797
Wisconsin$27,766
Vermont$27,704
Texas$27,531
Maine$27,520
Arizona$27,503
Ohio$27,483
Georgia$27,224
Indiana$27,094
Wyoming$27,069
Utah$27,029
Iowa$27,012
Kansas$26,877
Louisiana$26,837
North Carolina$26,823
Missouri$26,817
Florida$26,707
Montana$26,648
Nebraska$26,592
Kentucky$26,560
South Carolina$26,448
Tennessee$26,377
Idaho$26,349
New Mexico$26,143
Oklahoma$26,098
Alabama$25,931
South Dakota$25,652
Arkansas$25,499
West Virginia$25,417
Mississippi$25,172
Top Paying Cities for Cafeteria Assistants
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: $35,601
San Francisco: $35,211
Oakland: $34,469
San Jose, CA$35,601
San Francisco, CA$35,211
Oakland, CA$34,469
New York, NY$32,499
Paramus, NJ$32,104
Queens Village, NY$32,102
Passaic, NJ$32,076
Bergenfield, NJ$32,073
Stamford, CT$32,011
Huntington, NY$31,999
Newark, NJ$31,791
Bridgeport, CT$31,731
Vallejo, CA$31,675
New Brunswick, NJ$31,664
Petaluma, CA$31,647
Middlesex, NJ$31,593
Somerset, NJ$31,573
Santa Cruz, CA$31,537
Boston, MA$31,365
Monterey, CA$31,265
Seattle, WA$31,201
Santa Rosa, CA$31,195
Los Angeles, CA$31,187
Juneau, AK$31,113
Washington, DC$31,082
Orange, CA$30,982
Santa Ana, CA$30,907
Long Beach, CA$30,879
Anaheim, CA$30,873
Anchorage, AK$30,859
Santa Maria, CA$30,775
Everett, WA$30,769
Danbury, CT$30,670
Bremerton, WA$30,631
Tacoma, WA$30,529
New Suffolk, NY$30,528
Sacramento, CA$30,521
Santa Barbara, CA$30,490
Trenton, NJ$30,458
San Diego, CA$30,458
Brockton, MA$30,427
Fairbanks, AK$30,358
Lompoc, CA$30,286
Lowell, MA$30,263
Ventura, CA$30,258
Nashua, NH$30,252
Stockton, CA$30,250
Modesto, CA$30,044
Poughkeepsie, NY$29,981
Olympia, WA$29,928
Kennewick, WA$29,928
New Haven, CT$29,917
Lawrence, MA$29,815
Hartford, CT$29,787
Riverside, CA$29,781
New Bedford, MA$29,753
Richland, WA$29,753
Bakersfield, CA$29,713
San Bernardino, CA$29,702
New Britain, CT$29,699
Atlantic City, NJ$29,699
New London, CT$29,688
Norwich, CT$29,679
Portsmouth, NH$29,674
Boulder, CO$29,614
Portland, OR$29,575
Worcester, MA$29,572
Minneapolis, MN$29,485
Philadelphia, PA$29,445
Honolulu, HI$29,352
Saint Paul, MN$29,338
Vineland, NJ$29,332
Providence, RI$29,250
Chicago, IL$29,169
Bellingham, WA$29,135
Springfield, MA$29,112
Baltimore, MD$29,104
Chico, CA$29,033
Pittsfield, MA$28,957
Manchester, NH$28,903
Spokane, WA$28,779
Denver, CO$28,776
Albany, NY$28,644
Troy, NY$28,632
Nassau, NY$28,602
Schenectady, NY$28,573
Wilmington, DE$28,550
Burlington, VT$28,511
Salem, OR$28,500
Portland, ME$28,412
Yakima, WA$28,384
Rochester, MN$28,296
Reno, NV$28,282
Fresno, CA$28,282
Milwaukee, WI$28,257
Detroit, MI$28,229
Ann Arbor, MI$28,224
Allentown, PA$28,220
Colorado Springs, CO$28,172
Syracuse, NY$28,158
Carson City, NV$28,158
Houston, TX$28,119
Eugene, OR$28,104
Gary, IN$28,071
Springfield, OR$28,048
Bismarck, ND$28,042
Galveston, TX$28,023
Medford, OR$27,980
Fort Collins, CO$27,969
Concord, NH$27,955
Austin, TX$27,946
Mesa, AZ$27,887
Reading, PA$27,884
Phoenix, AZ$27,881
Dallas, TX$27,873
Saint Cloud, MN$27,846
Madison, WI$27,808
Utica, NY$27,732
Rochester, NY$27,687
Des Moines, IA$27,684
Raleigh, NC$27,681
Atlanta, GA$27,639
Battle Creek, MI$27,630
Salt Lake City, UT$27,622
Lancaster, PA$27,579
Harrisburg, PA$27,540
Kansas City, MO$27,512
Champaign, IL$27,506
Kansas City, KS$27,506
Fort Worth, TX$27,503
Columbus, OH$27,498
Boca Raton, FL$27,492
Pittsburgh, PA$27,481
Richmond, VA$27,469
Indianapolis, IN$27,464
Cleveland, OH$27,461
Las Vegas, NV$27,427
Cincinnati, OH$27,427
Petersburg, VA$27,385
Huntsville, AL$27,342
Lansing, MI$27,323
Lebanon, PA$27,320
Pueblo, CO$27,317
Appleton, WI$27,308
Buffalo, NY$27,297
Dayton, OH$27,289
Racine, WI$27,283
Charlotte, NC$27,280
Saint Louis, MO$27,272
York, PA$27,255
Elkhart, IN$27,255
Gastonia, NC$27,249
Billings, MT$27,243
Beaumont, TX$27,235
Lorain, OH$27,229
Benton Harbor, MI$27,224
Toledo, OH$27,218
Binghamton, NY$27,204
Rock Hill, SC$27,201
Rockford, IL$27,187
Springfield, IL$27,176
Elyria, OH$27,173
Fargo, ND$27,173
Flagstaff, AZ$27,153
Fort Lauderdale, FL$27,136
Duluth, MN$27,119
Miami, FL$27,119
Cheyenne, WY$27,100
Grand Forks, ND$27,100
Bangor, ME$27,037
Cedar Rapids, IA$27,006
Durham, NC$26,995
Louisville, KY$26,992
Grand Rapids, MI$26,987
Hialeah, FL$26,984
Casper, WY$26,944
Scranton, PA$26,910
New Orleans, LA$26,902
Virginia Beach, VA$26,899
Akron, OH$26,885
Peoria, IL$26,848
Sarasota, FL$26,843
Nashville, TN$26,823
Omaha, NE$26,823
Green Bay, WI$26,823
Baton Rouge, LA$26,809
Charleston, SC$26,803
Jamestown, NY$26,789
Davenport, IA$26,789
Tucson, AZ$26,775
Saint Petersburg, FL$26,758
Tampa, FL$26,752
Evansville, IN$26,735
Port Arthur, TX$26,735
Bradenton, FL$26,724
Santa Fe, NM$26,673
Orlando, FL$26,623
Clearwater, FL$26,614
Canton, OH$26,555
La Crosse, WI$26,555
Albuquerque, NM$26,538
Newport News, VA$26,535
High Point, NC$26,527
Ogden, UT$26,515
Corpus Christi, TX$26,493
Norfolk, VA$26,476
Laramie, WY$26,476
Rock Island, IL$26,459
Saginaw, MI$26,453
Jacksonville, FL$26,450
Salisbury, NC$26,445
Boise, ID$26,439
Moline, IL$26,425
Fort Myers, FL$26,417
Memphis, TN$26,411
Tulsa, OK$26,397
Waterloo, IA$26,380
Spartanburg, SC$26,352
Lincoln, NE$26,337
Fort Wayne, IN$26,332
Provo, UT$26,329
Cedar Falls, IA$26,295
San Antonio, TX$26,284
Greensboro, NC$26,273
South Bend, IN$26,270
Savannah, GA$26,239
Muskegon, MI$26,227
Birmingham, AL$26,225
Winston Salem, NC$26,211
Lake Charles, LA$26,143
Anderson, IN$26,137
Lexington, KY$26,129
Augusta, GA$26,120
Greenville, SC$26,120
Lima, OH$26,098
Wichita, KS$26,095
Tuscaloosa, AL$26,095
Columbia, SC$26,069
Springfield, OH$26,064
Asheville, NC$26,019
Bloomington, IN$25,999
Knoxville, TN$25,897
Shreveport, LA$25,894
Wilmington, NC$25,858
Roanoke, VA$25,858
Topeka, KS$25,807
Frankfort, KY$25,804
Oklahoma City, OK$25,784
Chillicothe, OH$25,773
Longview, TX$25,770
Melbourne, FL$25,767
Sioux Falls, SD$25,722
Mobile, AL$25,719
Terre Haute, IN$25,708
Altoona, PA$25,691
Amarillo, TX$25,671
Killeen, TX$25,663
Fayetteville, AR$25,640
Chattanooga, TN$25,632
Sioux City, IA$25,606
Idaho Falls, ID$25,601
Lynchburg, VA$25,578
Gainesville, FL$25,542
Portsmouth, OH$25,527
Little Rock, AR$25,522
Lafayette, LA$25,510
Youngstown, OH$25,510
Daytona Beach, FL$25,494
Clarksville, TN$25,491
Pensacola, FL$25,488
Temple, TX$25,486
Hopkinsville, KY$25,403
Erie, PA$25,398
Florence, SC$25,386
Charleston, WV$25,341
Great Falls, MT$25,327
Macon, GA$25,287
Tallahassee, FL$25,285
Fayetteville, NC$25,279
Waco, TX$25,273
Helena, MT$25,254
Pine Bluff, AR$25,243
Vincennes, IN$25,208
Lubbock, TX$25,197
Alamogordo, NM$25,180
Twin Falls, ID$25,155
Rapid City, SD$25,146
Jackson, MS$25,096
Huntington, WV$25,094
Greenville, MS$25,093
Parkersburg, WV$25,064
Montgomery, AL$25,059
Wichita Falls, TX$25,031
Springfield, MO$25,031
Biloxi, MS$25,017
Monroe, LA$24,988
Johnstown, PA$24,969
Sumter, SC$24,957
Columbus, GA$24,954
Pascagoula, MS$24,901
Abilene, TX$24,901
Kingsport, TN$24,827
Albany, GA$24,827
Gulfport, MS$24,819
Alexandria, LA$24,726
Fort Smith, AR$24,655
El Paso, TX$24,579
Las Cruces, NM$24,452
Harlingen, TX$24,380
Pocatello, ID$24,376
Florence, AL$24,339
Brownsville, TX$24,333
Mcallen, TX$24,274
Dothan, AL$24,235
Columbus, MS$24,067
Altus, OK$23,935
Lawton, OK$23,882
Pierre, SD$23,780
What Skills Can Increase a Cafeteria Assistant's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Customer Service (Mentioned in 18.88% 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.
Product Quality (Mentioned in 3.25% Job Postings): Product quality refers to how well a product satisfies customer needs, serves its purpose and meets industry standards. When evaluating product quality, businesses consider several key factors, including whether a product solves a problem, works efficiently or suits customers' purposes.
Hosting (Mentioned in 1.3% Job Postings): An Internet hosting service is a service that runs Internet servers, allowing organizations and individuals to serve content to the Internet. There are various levels of service and various kinds of services offered. A common kind of hosting is web hosting. Most hosting providers offer a combination of services; e-mail hosting, for example. DNS hosting service is usually bundled with domain name registration. Generic kinds of Internet hosting provide a server where the clients can run anything they want (including web servers and other servers) and have Internet connections with good upstream bandwidth. Full-featured hosting services include: Complex Managed Hosting, Dedicated hosting service, Virtual private server,Colocation facilities, Cloud hosting etc.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Customer Service
18.88%
Product Quality
3.25%
Hosting
1.3%
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 Assistant's salary.
Interviewing: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Goal Oriented: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
Sense Of Urgency: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Interviewing
$32,742
16%
Goal Oriented
$32,460
15%
Sense Of Urgency
$31,613
12%
Sales Support
$31,331
11%
Integrity
$31,048
10%
Problem Solving
$30,766
9%
Get Latest Data
Cafeteria Assistant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Cafeteria Assistant roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential
by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Hospitality & Leisure,
offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely,
Cafeteria Assistant positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Cafeteria Assistant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Cafeteria Assistant
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Hospitality & Leisure
$31,048
$15.0
10%
How Education impacts a Cafeteria Assistant's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Cafeteria Assistants 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 Assistant with a No Diploma is between
$23,305
and $24,701).
Cafeteria Assistant Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Cafeteria Assistant
No Diploma8.5%
High School54.9%
Associates13.4%
Bachelors18.3%
Masters4.9%
Doctorate0.0%
view as table
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
8.5%
High School
54.9%
Associates
13.4%
Bachelors
18.3%
Masters
4.9%
Doctorate
0.0%
view as graph
Cafeteria Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Cafeteria Assistant'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.
Salaries for a Cafeteria Assistant can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $27,503 in 2023
to around $27,328 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Cafeteria Assistant salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Cafeteria Assistant Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$27,503
2024
$27,727
2025
$27,328
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$27,503
2024
$27,727
2025
$27,328
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Cafeteria Assistant
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
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Common company salaries for Cafeteria Assistant
Here are companies hiring for Cafeteria Assistant and their salaries, click below for more details.
N
$97,099/per year
New York Police Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$95,962/per year
State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$94,615/per year
US Department of Transportation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$93,141/per year
US General Services Administration
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$92,342/per year
Los Angeles County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
D
$92,011/per year
Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,967/per year
US Department of Commerce
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,755/per year
US Department of Energy
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
F
$91,673/per year
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$90,276/per year
Naval Sea Systems Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,975/per year
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$88,721/per year
San Diego County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,664/per year
The TTB
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$87,569/per year
Lutheran Services
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
M
$85,066/per year
Maryland Inc
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$83,780/per year
State University of New York
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$82,969/per year
New York State
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
P
$82,703/per year
Puerto Rico Department of Education
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$80,526/per year
US Central Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
H
$80,286/per year
Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$79,270/per year
Air Force Reserve
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$78,505/per year
American Automobile Association (AAA)
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$76,678/per year
State of Florida - Department of Health
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$75,183/per year
New York State Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$75,106/per year
State University System of Florida
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
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FAQ about Cafeteria Assistant
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Cafeteria Assistant?
The Hospitality & Leisure industry offers the highest average compensation for Cafeteria Assistant roles,
with salaries approximately 10% 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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