What are the main factors that influence a Cafeteria Server's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Cafeteria Server's salary?

A Cafeteria Server's salary grows with experience: starting around $30,724 for beginners, reaching about $31,469 at mid-level, and approach $31,632 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a Cafeteria Server?

Cafeteria Server salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Cafeteria Server roles are District of Columbia $34,407, California $34,276, Massachusetts $33,820. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Cafeteria Server roles make?

Salaries for Cafeteria Server level roles vary by specialization: Cafeteria Supervisor: $83,595; Cafeteria Cook: $38,352; Cafeteria Monitor: $38,050; Cafeteria Aide: $32,383; Cafeteria Worker: $31,352.

How do different companies affect a Cafeteria Server's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Cafeteria Server roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Cafeteria Server Salary in the United States

How much does a Cafeteria Server make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Cafeteria Server in the United States is $31,076 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $15.

However, a Cafeteria Server's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $35,331
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $28,623 to $33,303
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $26,389

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2025 Compensation Trend

Smart Recruiting

Recruit with AI

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Cafeteria Server Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$33,303	$2,775	$640	$16
Average	$31,076	$2,590	$598	$15
25th Percentile	$28,623	$2,385	$550	$14

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Cafeteria Server Job Openings in the United States

Associate Dentist

Lakeshore Family Dental Care - WHITEHALL, MI

Registered Dental Hygienist

Ward Johnson, DDS - ASPEN, CO

Physical Therapist

Confidential - BAGLEY, MN

Outpatient Orthopedic Physical Therapist

The Bone and Joint Surgery Center - RALEIGH, NC

Search More Cafeteria Server Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Cafeteria Server Salaries

A Cafeteria Server'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 Server Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Cafeteria Server'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): $30,724
Early Career (1-2 years): $30,977
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $31,469
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $31,567
Expert (over 8 years): $31,632

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Cafeteria Server	$30,724
Intermediate Level Cafeteria Server	$30,977
Senior Level Cafeteria Server	$31,469
Specialist Level Cafeteria Server	$31,567
Expert Level Cafeteria Server	$31,632

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Cafeteria Server 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 Servers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $34,407.
California: $34,276.
Massachusetts: $33,820.

District of Columbia $34,407

California $34,276

Massachusetts $33,820

Washington $33,695

New Jersey $33,683

Alaska $33,639

Connecticut $33,210

New York $33,036

Hawaii $32,480

Rhode Island $32,219

Maryland $32,042

Minnesota $31,800

Colorado $31,706

Illinois $31,675

Oregon $31,557

Delaware $31,470

New Hampshire $31,416

Virginia $31,293

Pennsylvania $30,936

Nevada $30,756

North Dakota $30,696

Michigan $30,603

Wisconsin $30,569

Vermont $30,501

Texas $30,311

Maine $30,299

Arizona $30,280

Ohio $30,258

Georgia $29,972

Indiana $29,829

Wyoming $29,802

Utah $29,758

Iowa $29,739

Kansas $29,590

Louisiana $29,547

North Carolina $29,531

Missouri $29,525

Florida $29,404

Montana $29,338

Nebraska $29,276

Kentucky $29,242

South Carolina $29,118

Tennessee $29,040

Idaho $29,009

New Mexico $28,782

Oklahoma $28,732

Alabama $28,549

South Dakota $28,242

Arkansas $28,074

West Virginia $27,984

Mississippi $27,713

Top Paying Cities for Cafeteria Servers

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: $39,196
San Francisco: $38,810
Oakland: $37,950

San Jose, CA $39,196

San Francisco, CA $38,810

Oakland, CA $37,950

New York, NY $36,014

Queens Village, NY $35,780

Paramus, NJ $35,532

Passaic, NJ $35,501

Bergenfield, NJ $35,470

Stamford, CT $35,423

Huntington, NY $35,392

Newark, NJ $35,190

Bridgeport, CT $35,128

New Brunswick, NJ $35,025

Vallejo, CA $34,960

Middlesex, NJ $34,941

Somerset, NJ $34,913

Petaluma, CA $34,842

Santa Cruz, CA $34,721

Boston, MA $34,659

Monterey, CA $34,503

Fairbanks, AK $34,481

Los Angeles, CA $34,422

Washington, DC $34,407

Seattle, WA $34,351

Santa Rosa, CA $34,345

Juneau, AK $34,255

Orange, CA $34,152

Anchorage, AK $34,096

Anaheim, CA $34,074

Santa Ana, CA $34,028

Nassau, NY $34,009

Long Beach, CA $33,997

Danbury, CT $33,987

Santa Maria, CA $33,882

Everett, WA $33,876

Bremerton, WA $33,723

Trenton, NJ $33,664

Sacramento, CA $33,652

San Diego, CA $33,636

Brockton, MA $33,624

Tacoma, WA $33,611

Santa Barbara, CA $33,568

Lowell, MA $33,444

New Suffolk, NY $33,431

Nashua, NH $33,394

Lompoc, CA $33,344

Ventura, CA $33,313

Stockton, CA $33,304

New Haven, CT $33,242

Atlantic City, NJ $33,161

Hartford, CT $33,092

Modesto, CA $33,077

Poughkeepsie, NY $33,009

New Britain, CT $32,993

Olympia, WA $32,949

Kennewick, WA $32,949

New London, CT $32,943

Norwich, CT $32,934

Lawrence, MA $32,918

Bakersfield, CA $32,831

Riverside, CA $32,788

New Bedford, MA $32,788

Richland, WA $32,757

Portsmouth, NH $32,732

Vineland, NJ $32,726

San Bernardino, CA $32,701

Boulder, CO $32,614

Worcester, MA $32,589

Portland, OR $32,561

Saint Paul, MN $32,524

Minneapolis, MN $32,524

Philadelphia, PA $32,480

Honolulu, HI $32,316

Springfield, MA $32,207

Providence, RI $32,204

Chicago, IL $32,114

Bellingham, WA $32,076

Baltimore, MD $32,042

Chico, CA $31,964

Wilmington, DE $31,912

Pittsfield, MA $31,880

Manchester, NH $31,821

Spokane, WA $31,685

Denver, CO $31,682

Albany, NY $31,536

Troy, NY $31,523

Schenectady, NY $31,458

Burlington, VT $31,389

Portland, ME $31,281

Salem, OR $31,256

Yakima, WA $31,250

Ann Arbor, MI $31,240

Rochester, MN $31,153

Fresno, CA $31,138

Reno, NV $31,138

Milwaukee, WI $31,110

Detroit, MI $31,079

Allentown, PA $31,069

Carson City, NV $31,066

Houston, TX $31,020

Colorado Springs, CO $31,017

Syracuse, NY $31,001

Eugene, OR $30,942

Bismarck, ND $30,905

Gary, IN $30,905

Galveston, TX $30,905

Springfield, OR $30,880

Medford, OR $30,805

Fort Collins, CO $30,793

Austin, TX $30,768

Mesa, AZ $30,703

Phoenix, AZ $30,696

Dallas, TX $30,687

Reading, PA $30,669

Saint Cloud, MN $30,656

Concord, NH $30,628

Madison, WI $30,616

Utica, NY $30,532

Raleigh, NC $30,507

Las Vegas, NV $30,504

Rochester, NY $30,482

Des Moines, IA $30,479

Atlanta, GA $30,429

Battle Creek, MI $30,420

Salt Lake City, UT $30,411

Lancaster, PA $30,364

Champaign, IL $30,358

Harrisburg, PA $30,320

Durham, NC $30,292

Kansas City, MO $30,289

Kansas City, KS $30,283

Fort Worth, TX $30,280

Boca Raton, FL $30,268

Cleveland, OH $30,265

Columbus, OH $30,258

Pittsburgh, PA $30,255

Richmond, VA $30,243

Indianapolis, IN $30,237

Cincinnati, OH $30,196

Petersburg, VA $30,150

Billings, MT $30,081

Lansing, MI $30,081

Huntsville, AL $30,081

Lebanon, PA $30,078

Dayton, OH $30,075

Pueblo, CO $30,075

Appleton, WI $30,066

Buffalo, NY $30,053

Racine, WI $30,038

Charlotte, NC $30,035

Saint Louis, MO $30,025

Springfield, IL $30,013

Elkhart, IN $30,007

York, PA $30,007

Gastonia, NC $30,003

Benton Harbor, MI $30,003

Beaumont, TX $29,985

Lorain, OH $29,979

Toledo, OH $29,966

Binghamton, NY $29,951

Rock Hill, SC $29,948

Rockford, IL $29,932

Fargo, ND $29,916

Elyria, OH $29,916

Flagstaff, AZ $29,895

Fort Lauderdale, FL $29,876

Miami, FL $29,857

Duluth, MN $29,808

Bangor, ME $29,767

Cedar Rapids, IA $29,733

Louisville, KY $29,718

Grand Rapids, MI $29,711

Hialeah, FL $29,708

Casper, WY $29,665

Scranton, PA $29,627

New Orleans, LA $29,618

Virginia Beach, VA $29,615

Akron, OH $29,600

Peoria, IL $29,559

Sarasota, FL $29,553

Green Bay, WI $29,531

Baton Rouge, LA $29,516

Charleston, SC $29,509

Nashville, TN $29,500

Jamestown, NY $29,494

Davenport, IA $29,494

Tucson, AZ $29,478

Cheyenne, WY $29,469

Saint Petersburg, FL $29,460

Tampa, FL $29,453

Omaha, NE $29,447

Port Arthur, TX $29,435

Evansville, IN $29,435

Bradenton, FL $29,422

Santa Fe, NM $29,366

Orlando, FL $29,335

Clearwater, FL $29,301

Canton, OH $29,236

La Crosse, WI $29,236

Grand Forks, ND $29,227

Albuquerque, NM $29,217

Tulsa, OK $29,217

Newport News, VA $29,214

High Point, NC $29,205

Ogden, UT $29,192

Corpus Christi, TX $29,168

Laramie, WY $29,149

Norfolk, VA $29,149

Rock Island, IL $29,130

Saginaw, MI $29,124

Jacksonville, FL $29,121

Salisbury, NC $29,115

Memphis, TN $29,109

Moline, IL $29,093

Fort Myers, FL $29,084

Waterloo, IA $29,043

Spartanburg, SC $29,012

Lincoln, NE $28,997

Fort Wayne, IN $28,990

Birmingham, AL $28,956

Cedar Falls, IA $28,950

Provo, UT $28,947

Springfield, OH $28,944

San Antonio, TX $28,938

Greensboro, NC $28,925

South Bend, IN $28,922

Winston Salem, NC $28,919

Boise, ID $28,910

Savannah, GA $28,888

Muskegon, MI $28,832

Lima, OH $28,795

Lake Charles, LA $28,782

Anderson, IN $28,776

Lexington, KY $28,767

Augusta, GA $28,757

Greenville, SC $28,757

Wichita, KS $28,729

Tuscaloosa, AL $28,729

Columbia, SC $28,701

Bloomington, IN $28,624

Roanoke, VA $28,605

Asheville, NC $28,565

Knoxville, TN $28,512

Shreveport, LA $28,509

Wilmington, NC $28,468

Frankfort, KY $28,409

Oklahoma City, OK $28,388

Chillicothe, OH $28,375

Longview, TX $28,372

Topeka, KS $28,363

Mobile, AL $28,316

Terre Haute, IN $28,304

Erie, PA $28,301

Altoona, PA $28,285

Melbourne, FL $28,276

Amarillo, TX $28,263

Killeen, TX $28,254

Fayetteville, AR $28,229

Sioux Falls, SD $28,207

Chattanooga, TN $28,189

Idaho Falls, ID $28,186

Gainesville, FL $28,120

Portsmouth, OH $28,105

Little Rock, AR $28,099

Lynchburg, VA $28,099

Lafayette, LA $28,086

Youngstown, OH $28,086

Temple, TX $28,074

Daytona Beach, FL $28,067

Clarksville, TN $28,064

Pensacola, FL $28,061

Hopkinsville, KY $27,968

Charleston, WV $27,965

Florence, SC $27,949

Sioux City, IA $27,931

Macon, GA $27,841

Tallahassee, FL $27,838

Fayetteville, NC $27,831

Waco, TX $27,825

Wichita Falls, TX $27,825

Pine Bluff, AR $27,813

Vincennes, IN $27,754

Lubbock, TX $27,741

Great Falls, MT $27,723

Alamogordo, NM $27,719

Abilene, TX $27,695

Rapid City, SD $27,654

Monroe, LA $27,654

Albany, GA $27,636

Huntington, WV $27,632

Jackson, MS $27,629

Greenville, MS $27,626

Parkersburg, WV $27,595

Montgomery, AL $27,589

Johnstown, PA $27,583

Springfield, MO $27,558

Biloxi, MS $27,542

Sumter, SC $27,477

Columbus, GA $27,474

Twin Falls, ID $27,455

Pascagoula, MS $27,415

Kingsport, TN $27,334

Gulfport, MS $27,325

Alexandria, LA $27,222

Fort Smith, AR $27,145

El Paso, TX $27,061

Helena, MT $27,020

Las Cruces, NM $26,921

Harlingen, TX $26,834

Pocatello, ID $26,806

Florence, AL $26,796

Brownsville, TX $26,790

Dothan, AL $26,741

Mcallen, TX $26,725

Columbus, MS $26,495

Altus, OK $26,352

Lawton, OK $26,293

Pierre, SD $26,181

What Skills Can Increase a Cafeteria Server's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Commitment (Mentioned in 9.34% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
Healthcare Services (Mentioned in 3.03% Job Postings): The improvement of health via the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, amelioration or cure of disease, illness, injury and other physical and mental impairments in people. Health care is delivered by health professionals and allied health fields.
POS System (Mentioned in 2.12% Job Postings): Point-of-sale system is the hardware and software that enable your business to make those sales.A point of sale, or point of purchase, is where you ring up customers.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Commitment	9.34%
Healthcare Services	3.03%
POS System	2.12%

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 Server's salary.

SOP: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
Hard Working: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Organizing: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
SOP	$36,358	17%
Hard Working	$33,251	7%
Organizing	$33,251	7%
Problem Solving	$33,251	7%
Organizational Skills	$32,940	6%
Commitment	$32,629	5%

Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Cafeteria Server's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Cafeteria Servers 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 Server with a No Diploma is between $28,238 and $30,684).

Cafeteria Server Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Cafeteria Server

No Diploma 5.8%

High School 52.8%

Associates 13.0%

Bachelors 26.0%

Masters 2.1%

Doctorate 0.3%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	5.8%
High School	52.8%
Associates	13.0%
Bachelors	26.0%
Masters	2.1%
Doctorate	0.3%

view as graph

Cafeteria Server Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Cafeteria Server'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.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

$28,623

Average $31,076/year

$33,303

$2,385

Average $2,590/month

$2,775

$550

Average $598/week

$640

$14

Average $15/hour

$16

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$33,303	$2,775	$640	$16
Average	$31,076	$2,590	$598	$15
25th Percentile	$28,623	$2,385	$550	$14

Salaries of jobs related to Cafeteria Server

Salary Trends for Cafeteria Server

Salaries for a Cafeteria Server can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $30,101 in 2023 to around $29,608 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Cafeteria Server salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Cafeteria Server Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$30,101

2024

$29,955

2025

$29,608

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$30,101
2024	$29,955
2025	$29,608
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Cafeteria Server

Social Security

401(k)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Biotechnology

the United States

Find Your Next Cafeteria Server Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Cafeteria Server job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

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.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about