Lunch Aide Salary in the United States

How much does a Lunch Aide make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lunch Aide in the United States is $31,290 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $15.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $35,352
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $28,538 to $33,416
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $26,033
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View as table View as graph 25% $28,538 10% $26,033 90% $35,352 75% $33,416 $31,290 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Lunch Aide Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $33,416 $2,785 $643 $16
Average $31,290 $2,608 $602 $15
25th Percentile $28,538 $2,378 $549 $14
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Key Factors That Influence Lunch Aide Salaries

A Lunch Aide'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 Lunch Aide Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lunch Aide'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): $31,023
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $31,548
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $32,482
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $32,582
  • Expert (over 8 years): $32,649
Levels Salary
Entry Level Lunch Aide$31,023
Intermediate Level Lunch Aide$31,548
Senior Level Lunch Aide$32,482
Specialist Level Lunch Aide$32,582
Expert Level Lunch Aide$32,649
$31,023 0 yr
$31,548 < 2 yrs
$32,482 2-4 yrs
$32,582 5-8 yrs
$32,649 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Lunch Aides

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: $39,466
  • San Francisco: $39,078
  • Oakland: $38,211

What Skills Can Increase a Lunch Aide'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 Lunch Aide'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
$43,180
38%
WFM
$35,358
13%
Commitment
$34,732
11%
Analysis
$33,480
7%
Brand Awareness
$33,480
7%
Decision Making
$33,168
6%
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How Education impacts a Lunch Aide's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Lunch Aides 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 Lunch Aide with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $32,120 and $34,508).

Lunch Aide Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Lunch Aide
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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Lunch Aide Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Lunch Aide'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 Lunch Aide

Salaries for a Lunch Aide can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $30,655 in 2023 to around $30,154 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Lunch Aide salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Lunch Aide Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$30,655
2024
$30,507
2025
$30,154
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $30,655
2024 $30,507
2025 $30,154
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Lunch Aide

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

Here are companies hiring for Lunch Aide and their salaries, click below for more details.

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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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