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Cafeteria assistant salary
Average cafeteria assistant salary
$14.43
Understanding Cafeteria Assistant Salaries
The average salary for a Cafeteria Assistant in the United States is around $30,012 per year, or approximately $14 an hour. Salaries can vary based on factors such as location, experience, and type of institution. For instance, cafeteria assistants in states like California and New York tend to earn higher wages compared to their counterparts in other regions.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level positions typically start at a lower salary, while those with several years of experience can see significant increases. For example, experienced cafeteria assistants may earn upwards of $35,000 annually. Additionally, those who take on supervisory roles often command higher salaries.
Job Opportunities
Job opportunities for cafeteria assistants are available in various settings, including schools, hospitals, and corporate cafeterias. With the increasing focus on nutrition and healthy eating policies, the demand for skilled cafeteria staff is expected to rise. Pursuing certifications in food safety and nutrition can further enhance job prospects and potential earnings.
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Where can a Cafeteria Assistant earn more?
Cafeteria assistant salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level cafeteria assistant | $26,600 | $12.80 |
| Mid-level cafeteria assistant | $33,200 | $15.98 |
| Senior-level cafeteria assistant | $33,000 | $15.88 |
Cafeteria assistant salary estimates from across the web
Average cafeteria assistant salary by state
The average cafeteria assistant salary in Washington, Idaho, and Maine are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average cafeteria assistant salary states are Utah, Tennessee, and Nebraska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for cafeteria assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | $38,945 | $18.72 |
| 2 | Washington | $40,080 | $19.27 |
| 3 | Colorado | $34,419 | $16.55 |
| 4 | Michigan | $33,537 | $16.12 |
| 5 | New York | $36,340 | $17.47 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $33,585 | $16.15 |
| 7 | Maine | $38,876 | $18.69 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $33,097 | $15.91 |
| 9 | Ohio | $29,605 | $14.23 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $36,606 | $17.60 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $34,294 | $16.49 |
| 12 | Arizona | $29,090 | $13.99 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $29,849 | $14.35 |
| 14 | Vermont | $36,312 | $17.46 |
| 15 | Montana | $32,912 | $15.82 |
| 16 | Oregon | $33,819 | $16.26 |
| 17 | Iowa | $30,196 | $14.52 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $37,382 | $17.97 |
| 19 | Indiana | $28,211 | $13.56 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $32,491 | $15.62 |
| 21 | California | $32,654 | $15.70 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $26,744 | $12.86 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $28,812 | $13.85 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $35,390 | $17.01 |
| 25 | Illinois | $29,254 | $14.06 |
| 26 | Alaska | $29,802 | $14.33 |
| 27 | Nevada | $26,311 | $12.65 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $30,795 | $14.81 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $26,199 | $12.60 |
| 30 | Maryland | $30,011 | $14.43 |
| 31 | Kansas | $26,946 | $12.95 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $25,369 | $12.20 |
| 33 | Missouri | $26,326 | $12.66 |
| 34 | Delaware | $28,975 | $13.93 |
| 35 | New Jersey | $26,351 | $12.67 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $26,076 | $12.54 |
| 37 | Florida | $22,840 | $10.98 |
| 38 | Texas | $22,085 | $10.62 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $24,113 | $11.59 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $21,595 | $10.38 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $24,430 | $11.75 |
| 42 | Georgia | $22,989 | $11.05 |
| 43 | Utah | $21,627 | $10.40 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $22,873 | $11.00 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $24,257 | $11.66 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $22,013 | $10.58 |
| 47 | Alabama | $20,189 | $9.71 |
| 48 | Virginia | $23,699 | $11.39 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $21,518 | $10.35 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $16,761 | $8.06 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $19,751 | $9.50 |
Highest paying cities for cafeteria assistants
The highest-paying cities for cafeteria assistants are Lawrence, MA, Redding, CA, and La Crosse, WI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lawrence, MA | $36,826 | $17.70 |
| 2 | Redding, CA | $33,817 | $16.26 |
| 3 | La Crosse, WI | $30,084 | $14.46 |
| 4 | Apache Junction, AZ | $29,007 | $13.95 |
| 5 | Reno, NV | $27,252 | $13.10 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh, PA | $26,311 | $12.65 |
| 7 | Wichita, KS | $25,980 | $12.49 |
| 8 | Albuquerque, NM | $24,659 | $11.86 |
| 9 | Fayetteville, NC | $23,983 | $11.53 |
| 10 | Orlando, FL | $22,859 | $10.99 |
| 11 | Murfreesboro, TN | $21,602 | $10.39 |
Cafeteria assistant salary details
A cafeteria assistant's salary ranges from $21,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $41,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a cafeteria assistant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 75th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| Average | $30,012 | $2,501 | $14 |
| 25th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
| 10th Percentile | $21,000 | $1,750 | $10 |
Highest paying cafeteria assistant jobs
The highest paying types of cafeteria assistants are assistant, dining room coordinator, and dining room hostess.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus Boy | $24,432 | $2,036 | $11.75 | 17,550 |
| Dining Room Server | $29,540 | $2,462 | $14.20 | 99,079 |
| Busser | $24,111 | $2,009 | $11.59 | 14,989 |
| Room Service Server | $26,717 | $2,226 | $12.84 | 144,551 |
| Bar Back | $25,316 | $2,110 | $12.17 | 56,369 |
| Bus Person | $24,058 | $2,005 | $11.57 | 47,277 |
Top companies hiring cafeteria assistants now:
Which companies pay cafeteria assistants the most?
Cafeteria assistant salaries at Christian Academy School System and Lawrence General Hospital are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average cafeteria assistant salary at companies like St. Clare Catholic School and Simi Valley Unified School District are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christian Academy School System | $39,537 | $19.01 |
| 2 | Lawrence General Hospital | $39,416 | $18.95 |
| 3 | St. Clare Catholic School | $38,281 | $18.40 |
| 4 | Simi Valley Unified School District | $35,664 | $17.15 |
| 5 | Castro Valley USD | $33,818 | $16.26 |
| 6 | Santa Barbara County Education Office | $32,317 | $15.54 |
| 7 | Aerotek | $31,767 | $15.27 |
| 8 | Escalon | $31,630 | $15.21 |
| 9 | Roseville Joint Union High School District | $31,455 | $15.12 |
| 10 | Adecco | $31,218 | $15.01 |
| 11 | ManpowerGroup | $31,092 | $14.95 |
| 12 | Dairyland Power Cooperative | $30,748 | $14.78 |
| 13 | Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center | $30,665 | $14.74 |
| 14 | Democracy Prep Public Schools | $30,656 | $14.74 |
| 15 | Monroe Staffing | $30,593 | $14.71 |
| 16 | Old Town Club | $30,585 | $14.70 |
| 17 | Starkey | $29,819 | $14.34 |
| 18 | Lodi Unified School District | $29,615 | $14.24 |
| 19 | AdventHealth | $29,594 | $14.23 |
| 20 | Vacaville USD | $29,210 | $14.04 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Cafeteria assistant salary trends
The average cafeteria assistant salary has risen by $7,908 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average cafeteria assistant earned $22,104 annually, but today, they earn $30,012 a year. That works out to a 24% change in pay for cafeteria assistants over the last decade.
Compare cafeteria assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average cafeteria assistant salary over time
Compare cafeteria assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Cafeteria assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $30,000 | $14.43 | +6.2% |
| 2024 | $28,200 | $13.54 | +5.1% |
| 2023 | $26,700 | $12.85 | +5.0% |
| 2022 | $25,400 | $12.21 | +4.5% |
| 2021 | $24,200 | $11.65 | +4.6% |
Recently added cafeteria assistant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuma Elementary School District One | Cafeteria Assistant | Pine, AZ | 06/28/2025 | $30,679 |
| Anchorage School District | School Cafeteria Assistant | Nome, AK | 06/25/2025 | $31,952 |
| Garrett County Public Schools | Substitute Cafeteria Assistant Candidate Pool)-Gcps | Oakland, MD | 06/25/2025 | $32,870 |
| Anchorage Schools | School Cafeteria Assistant | Anchorage, AK | 06/25/2025 | $31,952 |
| Catholic Diocese of Peoria | Cafeteria Assistant | Bloomington, IL | 06/24/2025 | $32,349 |
| The Overlake School | Cafeteria Cashier and Operations Assistant | Redmond, WA | 06/21/2025 | $40,697 |
| Catholic Health Initiatives | Cafeteria Assistant | Chattanooga, TN | 06/20/2025 | $31,305 |
| Alaska Teachers and Personnel | Substitute School Cafeteria Assistant | Nome, AK | 06/19/2025 | $32,349 |
| Virginia Beach Public School | Cafeteria Assistant | Virginia Beach, VA | 06/18/2025 | $32,870 |
| Valley View Hospital | Cafeteria Assistant | Glenwood Springs, CO | 06/14/2025 | $39,653 |
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