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Buffet attendant salary
Average buffet attendant salary
$12.57
Average Buffet Attendant Salary
The average salary for a buffet attendant in the United States is approximately $26,138 per year or $13 per hour. Salaries can vary based on factors such as location, experience, and work environment. For instance, buffet attendants in high-demand areas or luxury establishments may earn more due to increased customer volume and service expectations.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level positions typically start around $21,000, while experienced attendants can earn upwards of $30,000 annually. Gaining experience in customer service and food handling can significantly impact earning potential.
Highest Paying States
States such as California and New York offer the highest salaries for buffet attendants, with averages reaching $30,000 or more. This can be attributed to higher living costs and competitive job markets.
Career Opportunities
Buffet attendants have opportunities across various sectors, including hotels, restaurants, and event catering. As you gain experience and develop your skills, consider exploring roles that offer higher pay and more responsibilities.
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Where can a Buffet Attendant earn more?
Buffet attendant salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level buffet attendant | $23,200 | $11.15 |
| Mid-level buffet attendant | $29,000 | $13.92 |
| Senior-level buffet attendant | $28,800 | $13.83 |
Buffet attendant salary estimates from across the web
Average buffet attendant salary by state
The average buffet attendant salary in Washington, Idaho, and Maine are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average buffet attendant salary states are Alabama, North Carolina, and Utah.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for buffet attendants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $31,362 | $15.08 |
| 2 | Oregon | $30,212 | $14.53 |
| 3 | Arizona | $27,882 | $13.40 |
| 4 | Maine | $33,941 | $16.32 |
| 5 | Idaho | $34,343 | $16.51 |
| 6 | Montana | $27,695 | $13.31 |
| 7 | Hawaii | $31,582 | $15.18 |
| 8 | Colorado | $28,873 | $13.88 |
| 9 | Washington | $34,391 | $16.53 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $29,075 | $13.98 |
| 11 | New York | $31,891 | $15.33 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $31,192 | $15.00 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $25,374 | $12.20 |
| 14 | Michigan | $25,649 | $12.33 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $28,500 | $13.70 |
| 16 | California | $31,528 | $15.16 |
| 17 | Nevada | $24,675 | $11.86 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $27,155 | $13.06 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $29,147 | $14.01 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $28,197 | $13.56 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $33,042 | $15.89 |
| 22 | Ohio | $23,669 | $11.38 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $25,037 | $12.04 |
| 24 | Kansas | $24,272 | $11.67 |
| 25 | Maryland | $26,044 | $12.52 |
| 26 | Florida | $22,696 | $10.91 |
| 27 | Illinois | $26,017 | $12.51 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $22,944 | $11.03 |
| 29 | Indiana | $23,390 | $11.25 |
| 30 | Georgia | $22,777 | $10.95 |
| 31 | Iowa | $23,511 | $11.30 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $22,719 | $10.92 |
| 33 | Delaware | $25,409 | $12.22 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $23,426 | $11.26 |
| 35 | Texas | $21,849 | $10.50 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $23,079 | $11.10 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $23,739 | $11.41 |
| 38 | Alaska | $21,451 | $10.31 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $20,978 | $10.09 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $21,697 | $10.43 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $22,340 | $10.74 |
| 42 | Pennsylvania | $21,564 | $10.37 |
| 43 | Missouri | $20,781 | $9.99 |
| 44 | Virginia | $21,667 | $10.42 |
| 45 | Utah | $19,810 | $9.52 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $20,016 | $9.62 |
| 47 | Alabama | $20,019 | $9.62 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $21,919 | $10.54 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $16,604 | $7.98 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $19,642 | $9.44 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $18,474 | $8.88 |
Highest paying cities for buffet attendants
The highest-paying cities for buffet attendants are Saratoga Springs, NY, Santa Clara, CA, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saratoga Springs, NY | $32,892 | $15.81 |
| 2 | Santa Clara, CA | $32,316 | $15.54 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $31,194 | $15.00 |
| 4 | Tigard, OR | $30,176 | $14.51 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $28,896 | $13.89 |
| 6 | Mesa, AZ | $27,870 | $13.40 |
| 7 | Waukegan, IL | $26,543 | $12.76 |
| 8 | Hagerstown, MD | $26,227 | $12.61 |
| 9 | Green Bay, WI | $25,860 | $12.43 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $25,531 | $12.27 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $23,210 | $11.16 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $22,864 | $10.99 |
| 13 | Tampa, FL | $22,724 | $10.93 |
| 14 | Arlington, TX | $21,927 | $10.54 |
| 15 | Newport News, VA | $21,504 | $10.34 |
| 16 | Harrisburg, PA | $21,450 | $10.31 |
| 17 | Memphis, TN | $20,997 | $10.09 |
| 18 | Saint Louis, MO | $20,590 | $9.90 |
| 19 | Asheville, NC | $20,071 | $9.65 |
| 20 | Birmingham, AL | $20,070 | $9.65 |
Buffet attendant salary details
A buffet attendant's salary ranges from $20,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $33,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a buffet attendant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 75th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| Average | $26,138 | $2,178 | $13 |
| 25th Percentile | $22,000 | $1,833 | $11 |
| 10th Percentile | $20,000 | $1,667 | $10 |
Highest paying buffet attendant jobs
The highest paying types of buffet attendants are dining room coordinator, counter attendant, and banquet houseman.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dining Room Server | $29,540 | $2,462 | $14.20 | 99,079 |
| Food Service Worker | $28,753 | $2,396 | $13.82 | 169,323 |
| Room Service Server | $26,717 | $2,226 | $12.84 | 144,551 |
| Bar Back | $25,316 | $2,110 | $12.17 | 56,369 |
| Bus Boy | $24,432 | $2,036 | $11.75 | 17,550 |
| Busser | $24,111 | $2,009 | $11.59 | 14,989 |
Top companies hiring buffet attendants now:
Which companies pay buffet attendants the most?
Buffet attendant salaries at Hyatt Hotels and Shakey's Pizza are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average buffet attendant salary at companies like Jake's Finer Foods and Great Wolf Resorts are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hyatt Hotels | $30,139 | $14.49 |
| 2 | Shakey's Pizza | $29,854 | $14.35 |
| 3 | Jake's Finer Foods | $29,051 | $13.97 |
| 4 | Great Wolf Resorts | $28,831 | $13.86 |
| 5 | PeopleReady | $28,827 | $13.86 |
| 6 | Aramark | $27,905 | $13.42 |
| 7 | Marriott International | $27,757 | $13.34 |
| 8 | Hersha Hospitality | $27,688 | $13.31 |
| 9 | Drury Hotels | $27,311 | $13.13 |
| 10 | Delaware North | $26,919 | $12.94 |
| 11 | Austin Country Club | $26,432 | $12.71 |
| 12 | Hilton | $26,195 | $12.59 |
| 13 | Benchmark Hospitally | $26,156 | $12.57 |
| 14 | Sodexo Management, Inc. | $26,111 | $12.55 |
| 15 | Benchmark Group | $26,053 | $12.53 |
| 16 | Aimbridge Hospitality | $25,935 | $12.47 |
| 17 | Hershey Jobs | $25,731 | $12.37 |
| 18 | Pyramid Hotel Group | $25,723 | $12.37 |
| 19 | BigEasy.com | $24,053 | $11.56 |
| 20 | Golden Corral | $23,719 | $11.40 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Buffet attendant salary trends
The average buffet attendant salary has risen by $6,887 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average buffet attendant earned $19,251 annually, but today, they earn $26,138 a year. That works out to a 24% change in pay for buffet attendants over the last decade.
Compare buffet attendant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average buffet attendant salary over time
Compare buffet attendant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Buffet attendant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $26,100 | $12.57 | +6.2% |
| 2025 | $24,500 | $11.79 | +5.1% |
| 2024 | $23,300 | $11.19 | +5.0% |
| 2023 | $22,100 | $10.63 | +4.5% |
| 2022 | $21,100 | $10.15 | +4.6% |
Recently added buffet attendant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton | Buffet Attendant, Letterpress-Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace | Buena Vista, CA | 06/27/2025 | $35,479 |
| Hilton | Buffet Attendant, Letterpress-Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace | Orlando, FL | 06/27/2025 | $35,479 |
| Delaware North Companies | Banquet Buffet Attendant, Everbank Stadium | Jacksonville, FL | 06/25/2025 | $31,305 |
| Hyatt Hotels Corp | Buffet Attendant Ilima Terrace | Koloa, HI | 06/24/2025 | $47,312 |
| Hilton Worldwide | Buffet Attendant-Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort | Wailea, HI | 06/19/2025 | $50,234 |
| Compass Group, North America | Buffet Attendant | SeaTac, WA | 06/12/2025 | $42,971 |
| Drury Hotels | PM Buffet Attendant | Overland Park, KS | 06/09/2025 | $35,062 |
| Delaware North Companies | Buffet Attendant, Comerica Park | Detroit, MI | 05/30/2025 | $34,436 |
| Hilton Worldwide | Buffet Attendant-Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort | Wailea, HI | 05/29/2025 | $50,234 |
| Hyatt Hotels Corp | Buffet Attendant-Casual | Wailea, HI | 05/28/2025 | $40,425 |
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