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Cafe associate salary
Average cafe associate salary
$14.46
Average Cafe Associate Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Cafe Associate stands at $30,081 annually, translating to about $14 per hour. Salaries can differ significantly based on location, experience, and the specific establishment. For instance, associates in bustling metropolitan areas often see higher wages due to the cost of living and demand for skilled workers.
Salary by State
The salary for Cafe Associates varies across the United States. States such as California and New York typically offer some of the highest salaries, influenced by their higher living costs. In contrast, less populated areas might offer lower pay but can provide a more relaxed work environment.
Top Paying Cities
Several cities stand out for offering competitive salaries for Cafe Associates. Cities like San Francisco, New York City, and Seattle are known for their vibrant cafe culture, leading to potential higher wages.
Career Opportunities
Beyond salary, being a Cafe Associate opens doors to various roles in hospitality, management, and culinary arts. With experience, you can advance to supervisory positions or explore specialized coffee or food service roles.
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Where can a Cafe Associate earn more?
Average cafe associate salary by state
The average cafe associate salary in Oregon, New Hampshire, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average cafe associate salary states are Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for cafe associates
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | $34,082 | $16.39 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $35,945 | $17.28 |
| 3 | Oregon | $36,216 | $17.41 |
| 4 | Iowa | $31,383 | $15.09 |
| 5 | New York | $34,905 | $16.78 |
| 6 | Washington | $34,229 | $16.46 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $31,425 | $15.11 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $30,473 | $14.65 |
| 9 | Delaware | $30,643 | $14.73 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $31,095 | $14.95 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $32,960 | $15.85 |
| 12 | California | $34,178 | $16.43 |
| 13 | Idaho | $32,491 | $15.62 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $30,531 | $14.68 |
| 15 | Arizona | $29,335 | $14.10 |
| 16 | Ohio | $29,947 | $14.40 |
| 17 | Colorado | $30,195 | $14.52 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $28,412 | $13.66 |
| 19 | Montana | $29,603 | $14.23 |
| 20 | Tennessee | $26,588 | $12.78 |
| 21 | Indiana | $26,556 | $12.77 |
| 22 | Alaska | $31,112 | $14.96 |
| 23 | Maine | $28,884 | $13.89 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $26,506 | $12.74 |
| 25 | New Jersey | $29,717 | $14.29 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $27,538 | $13.24 |
| 27 | Vermont | $29,624 | $14.24 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $27,269 | $13.11 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $24,412 | $11.74 |
| 30 | Missouri | $27,940 | $13.43 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $24,588 | $11.82 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $31,462 | $15.13 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | $25,801 | $12.40 |
| 34 | Maryland | $27,301 | $13.13 |
| 35 | Illinois | $25,162 | $12.10 |
| 36 | Texas | $24,565 | $11.81 |
| 37 | Utah | $25,195 | $12.11 |
| 38 | Nevada | $26,886 | $12.93 |
| 39 | Georgia | $24,257 | $11.66 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $25,540 | $12.28 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $24,502 | $11.78 |
| 42 | Alabama | $24,320 | $11.69 |
| 43 | Virginia | $24,025 | $11.55 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $22,703 | $10.91 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $25,953 | $12.48 |
| 46 | Florida | $22,690 | $10.91 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $23,839 | $11.46 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $23,751 | $11.42 |
| 49 | Kansas | $23,266 | $11.19 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $23,786 | $11.44 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $22,052 | $10.60 |
Highest paying cities for cafe associates
The highest-paying cities for cafe associates are Concord, NH, Pacifica, CA, and Rochester, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Concord, NH | $36,002 | $17.31 |
| 2 | Pacifica, CA | $35,954 | $17.29 |
| 3 | Rochester, NY | $35,673 | $17.15 |
| 4 | Everett, WA | $34,485 | $16.58 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $32,981 | $15.86 |
| 6 | Fargo, ND | $31,184 | $14.99 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $30,170 | $14.50 |
| 8 | Rochester, MN | $29,819 | $14.34 |
| 9 | Columbia, MO | $27,989 | $13.46 |
| 10 | Albuquerque, NM | $27,662 | $13.30 |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $26,664 | $12.82 |
| 12 | Indianapolis, IN | $26,318 | $12.65 |
| 13 | El Paso, TX | $25,851 | $12.43 |
| 14 | Bentonville, AR | $25,842 | $12.42 |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | $25,757 | $12.38 |
| 16 | Columbia, SC | $24,727 | $11.89 |
| 17 | Decatur, IL | $24,023 | $11.55 |
| 18 | Mechanicsville, VA | $23,981 | $11.53 |
| 19 | Oklahoma City, OK | $23,781 | $11.43 |
| 20 | Overland Park, KS | $23,256 | $11.18 |
Cafe associate salary details
A cafe associate's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $36,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a cafe associate's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| 75th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| Average | $30,081 | $2,507 | $14 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
Highest paying cafe associate jobs
The highest paying types of cafe associates are associate, associate food scientist, and food handler.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Prep | $25,840 | $2,153 | $12.42 | 168,743 |
| Food Preparer | $27,717 | $2,310 | $13.33 | 134,113 |
| Kitchen Staff | $29,816 | $2,485 | $14.33 | 154,513 |
| Food Service/Cashier | $28,481 | $2,373 | $13.69 | 247,779 |
| Cook/Server | $29,716 | $2,476 | $14.29 | 257,582 |
| Line Server | $28,300 | $2,358 | $13.61 | 246,165 |
Top companies hiring cafe associates now:
Which companies pay cafe associates the most?
Cafe associate salaries at Bertucci's and Wine Down LLC are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average cafe associate salary at companies like Capital One and Eskenazi Health are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bertucci's | $34,416 | $16.55 |
| 2 | Wine Down LLC | $34,058 | $16.37 |
| 3 | Capital One | $33,980 | $16.34 |
| 4 | Eskenazi Health | $32,516 | $15.63 |
| 5 | LifeBridge Health | $31,709 | $15.24 |
| 6 | Legends Hospitality | $30,564 | $14.69 |
| 7 | Heritage Operations Group | $30,545 | $14.69 |
| 8 | Walmart | $30,498 | $14.66 |
| 9 | Valley View Casino & Hotel | $30,358 | $14.60 |
| 10 | Memorial Hospital | $30,238 | $14.54 |
| 11 | Children's Museum of Houston | $30,057 | $14.45 |
| 12 | Panera Bread | $29,794 | $14.32 |
| 13 | Kelly Services | $29,775 | $14.31 |
| 14 | King Arthur Baking | $29,588 | $14.22 |
| 15 | Atrium Health Floyd | $29,485 | $14.18 |
| 16 | University of Richmond | $29,417 | $14.14 |
| 17 | Legend Holdings | $29,344 | $14.11 |
| 18 | Fowler Dodge | $29,268 | $14.07 |
| 19 | Lazydays | $28,989 | $13.94 |
| 20 | Memorial Health Systems Corporation | $28,922 | $13.90 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Cafe associate salary trends
The average cafe associate salary has risen by $6,797 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average cafe associate earned $23,284 annually, but today, they earn $30,081 a year. That works out to a 21% change in pay for cafe associates over the last decade.
Compare cafe associate salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average cafe associate salary over time
Compare cafe associate salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Cafe associate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $30,100 | $14.46 | +4.7% |
| 2024 | $28,700 | $13.79 | +5.4% |
| 2023 | $27,100 | $13.05 | +5.0% |
| 2022 | $25,800 | $12.39 | +3.7% |
| 2021 | $24,800 | $11.94 | +2.7% |
Recently added cafe associate salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart | (USA) Cafe Associate | Knoxville, TN | 06/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| University of Notre Dame | Temporary Cafe Associate| AU BON Pain | Notre Dame, IN | 06/26/2025 | $36,523 |
| Thomas Cuisine | Cafe Associate-Healthcare | Birmingham, AL | 06/25/2025 | $31,305 |
| Walmart | (PRI) Cafe Associate Sam's Club | Carolina, PR | 06/24/2025 | $31,305 |
| Scheels Sports | Cafe Associate | Chandler, AZ | 06/21/2025 | $39,653 |
| Walmart | (USA) Cafe Associate | Lewisville, TX | 06/20/2025 | $33,392 |
| Prime, Inc. | Cafe Associate-Overnight Position | Pittston, PA | 06/19/2025 | $41,740 |
| Wal-Mart | Cafe Associate | Phoenix, AZ | 06/16/2025 | $33,392 |
| Wal-Mart | Cafe Associate | Florence, KY | 06/16/2025 | $35,479 |
| Wal-Mart | Cafe Associate | Vacaville, CA | 06/16/2025 | $35,479 |
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