Dining Associate Salary in the United States

How much does a Dining Associate make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Dining Associate in the United States is $31,088 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $15.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $35,346
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $28,634 to $33,317
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $26,400
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View as table View as graph 25% $28,634 10% $26,400 90% $35,346 75% $33,317 $31,088 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Dining Associate Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $33,317 $2,776 $641 $16
Average $31,088 $2,591 $598 $15
25th Percentile $28,634 $2,386 $551 $14
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Key Factors That Influence Dining Associate Salaries

A Dining Associate'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 Dining Associate Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Dining Associate'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): $30,474
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $30,990
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $31,908
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $32,006
  • Expert (over 8 years): $32,071
Levels Salary
Entry Level Dining Associate$30,474
Intermediate Level Dining Associate$30,990
Senior Level Dining Associate$31,908
Specialist Level Dining Associate$32,006
Expert Level Dining Associate$32,071
$30,474 0 yr
$30,990 < 2 yrs
$31,908 2-4 yrs
$32,006 5-8 yrs
$32,071 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Dining Associate 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 Dining Associates. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $34,421.
  • California: $34,290.
  • Massachusetts: $33,833.

Top Paying Cities for Dining Associates

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: $39,212
  • San Francisco: $38,826
  • Oakland: $37,965

What Skills Can Increase a Dining Associate's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 14.61% 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.
  • Foodservice (Mentioned in 2.87% Job Postings): The foodservice or catering industry includes the businesses, institutions, and companies which prepare meals outside the home. It includes restaurants, school and hospital cafeterias, catering operations, and many other formats.
  • Catering (Mentioned in 1.44% Job Postings): Catering is the business of providing food service at a remote site or a site such as a hotel, hospital, pub, aircraft, cruise ship, park, festival, filming location or film studio.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 14.61%
Foodservice 2.87%
Catering 1.44%
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 Dining Associate's salary.
  • Generosity: Can increase your salary by up to 38%.
  • WFM: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Generosity
$42,902
38%
WFM
$35,130
13%
Commitment
$34,508
11%
Analysis
$33,264
7%
Brand Awareness
$33,264
7%
Decision Making
$32,954
6%
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How Education impacts a Dining Associate's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Dining Associates enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate 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 Dining Associate with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $32,120 and $34,508).

Dining Associate Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Dining Associate
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 8.8%
High School 50.8%
Associates 24.9%
Bachelors 15.0%
Masters 0.5%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Dining Associate Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Dining Associate'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

Salary Trends for Dining Associate

Salaries for a Dining Associate can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $30,113 in 2023 to around $29,621 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Dining Associate salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Dining Associate Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$30,113
2024
$29,967
2025
$29,621
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $30,113
2024 $29,967
2025 $29,621
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Dining Associate

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Dining Associate

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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.

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