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Cafeteria aide salary
Average cafeteria aide salary
$12.15
Understanding Cafeteria Aide Salaries
The average cafeteria aide salary in the United States is $25,278 per year or approximately $12 per hour. Salaries can vary based on factors such as geographic location, level of experience, and type of institution. For example, cafeteria aides in metropolitan areas often earn more than those in rural settings due to higher demand and cost of living adjustments.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level cafeteria aides may start with salaries around $20,000, while those with several years of experience can earn upwards of $30,000. Many positions also offer benefits, including health insurance and retirement plans, which add to overall compensation.
Highest Paying States
States such as California and New York typically offer the highest salaries for cafeteria aides, with average annual earnings reaching $28,000 or more. Job seekers should consider local job markets and their own qualifications when evaluating salary expectations.
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Where can a Cafeteria Aide earn more?
Cafeteria aide salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level cafeteria aide | $22,400 | $10.78 |
| Mid-level cafeteria aide | $28,000 | $13.46 |
| Senior-level cafeteria aide | $27,800 | $13.37 |
Cafeteria aide salary estimates from across the web
Average cafeteria aide salary by state
The highest-paying states for cafeteria aides are Washington, Idaho, and Hawaii. The lowest average cafeteria aide salary states are Utah, Alabama, and North Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for cafeteria aides
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $33,657 | $16.18 |
| 2 | Montana | $29,078 | $13.98 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $29,762 | $14.31 |
| 4 | Vermont | $31,251 | $15.02 |
| 5 | Idaho | $35,045 | $16.85 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $29,628 | $14.24 |
| 7 | New York | $29,564 | $14.21 |
| 8 | Oregon | $30,984 | $14.90 |
| 9 | Washington | $36,235 | $17.42 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $33,675 | $16.19 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $29,998 | $14.42 |
| 12 | Michigan | $25,297 | $12.16 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $25,245 | $12.14 |
| 14 | Illinois | $26,175 | $12.58 |
| 15 | California | $31,848 | $15.31 |
| 16 | Iowa | $23,869 | $11.48 |
| 17 | Alaska | $26,340 | $12.66 |
| 18 | Kansas | $23,802 | $11.44 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $27,773 | $13.35 |
| 20 | Indiana | $23,157 | $11.13 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $25,685 | $12.35 |
| 22 | Colorado | $28,195 | $13.56 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $25,592 | $12.30 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $22,803 | $10.96 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $31,468 | $15.13 |
| 26 | Arizona | $26,291 | $12.64 |
| 27 | Ohio | $23,185 | $11.15 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $26,265 | $12.63 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $22,491 | $10.81 |
| 30 | Maryland | $24,661 | $11.86 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $22,523 | $10.83 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $22,658 | $10.89 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $22,006 | $10.58 |
| 34 | Delaware | $23,754 | $11.42 |
| 35 | Nevada | $24,050 | $11.56 |
| 36 | Georgia | $22,298 | $10.72 |
| 37 | New Jersey | $21,401 | $10.29 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | $20,158 | $9.69 |
| 39 | Missouri | $21,938 | $10.55 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $20,378 | $9.80 |
| 41 | Texas | $21,182 | $10.18 |
| 42 | Florida | $22,430 | $10.78 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $21,665 | $10.42 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $21,302 | $10.24 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $18,628 | $8.96 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $19,533 | $9.39 |
| 47 | Alabama | $19,570 | $9.41 |
| 48 | Virginia | $20,781 | $9.99 |
| 49 | Utah | $19,603 | $9.42 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $19,187 | $9.22 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $16,177 | $7.78 |
Highest paying cities for cafeteria aides
The highest-paying cities for cafeteria aides are Lowell, MA, Waterbury, CT, and Peoria, IL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lowell, MA | $30,289 | $14.56 |
| 2 | Waterbury, CT | $26,415 | $12.70 |
| 3 | Peoria, IL | $25,439 | $12.23 |
| 4 | Mason City, IA | $24,826 | $11.94 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $22,904 | $11.01 |
| 6 | Springfield, OH | $22,839 | $10.98 |
| 7 | Daytona Beach, FL | $22,462 | $10.80 |
| 8 | Saint Charles, MO | $21,889 | $10.52 |
| 9 | Kingsport, TN | $20,421 | $9.82 |
| 10 | Warminster, PA | $20,082 | $9.65 |
| 11 | Huntsville, AL | $19,673 | $9.46 |
Cafeteria aide salary details
A cafeteria aide's salary ranges from $18,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $33,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a cafeteria aide's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 75th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| Average | $25,278 | $2,107 | $12 |
| 25th Percentile | $21,000 | $1,750 | $10 |
| 10th Percentile | $18,000 | $1,500 | $9 |
Highest paying cafeteria aide jobs
The highest paying types of cafeteria aides are dining room coordinator, banquet houseman, and line attendant.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus Boy | $24,432 | $2,036 | $11.75 | 17,550 |
| Bus Person | $24,058 | $2,005 | $11.57 | 47,277 |
| Dining Room Server | $29,540 | $2,462 | $14.20 | 99,079 |
| Busser | $24,111 | $2,009 | $11.59 | 14,989 |
| Bar Back | $25,316 | $2,110 | $12.17 | 56,369 |
| Breakfast Attendant | $26,791 | $2,233 | $12.88 | 63,312 |
Top companies hiring cafeteria aides now:
Which companies pay cafeteria aides the most?
Cafeteria aide salaries at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy and Hackensack Meridian Health are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average cafeteria aide salary at companies like Kaiser Permanente and The SOS Group are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy | $33,224 | $15.97 |
| 2 | Hackensack Meridian Health | $30,444 | $14.64 |
| 3 | Kaiser Permanente | $30,222 | $14.53 |
| 4 | The SOS Group | $29,833 | $14.34 |
| 5 | Trinity Health | $29,600 | $14.23 |
| 6 | Lowell General Hospital | $29,296 | $14.08 |
| 7 | Community Health Systems | $29,253 | $14.06 |
| 8 | Kelly Services | $28,924 | $13.91 |
| 9 | Columbia Memorial | $28,651 | $13.77 |
| 10 | UnityPoint Health | $28,408 | $13.66 |
| 11 | Encompass Health | $28,138 | $13.53 |
| 12 | Catholic Health East | $27,763 | $13.35 |
| 13 | Huntsville Hospital | $27,504 | $13.22 |
| 14 | Memorial Health Systems Corporation | $25,930 | $12.47 |
| 15 | Halifax Health | $25,826 | $12.42 |
| 16 | Damar Services | $25,670 | $12.34 |
| 17 | Springfield City Library | $25,133 | $12.08 |
| 18 | Wallingford Public Library | $24,437 | $11.75 |
| 19 | Francis Howell School District | $23,741 | $11.41 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Cafeteria aide salary trends
The average cafeteria aide salary has risen by $6,661 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average cafeteria aide earned $18,617 annually, but today, they earn $25,278 a year. That works out to a 24% change in pay for cafeteria aides over the last decade.
Compare cafeteria aide salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average cafeteria aide salary over time
Compare cafeteria aide salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Cafeteria aide salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $25,300 | $12.15 | +6.2% |
| 2024 | $23,700 | $11.40 | +5.1% |
| 2023 | $22,500 | $10.82 | +5.0% |
| 2022 | $21,400 | $10.28 | +4.5% |
| 2021 | $20,400 | $9.82 | +4.6% |
Recently added cafeteria aide salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport Public Schools | Cafeteria Aide III | Bridgeport, CT | 06/26/2025 | $39,003 |
| Meriden Public Schools | Cafeteria Aide | Noank, CT | 06/26/2025 | $34,122 |
| East Hanover Township School District | Cafeteria Aides | East Hanover, NJ | 06/25/2025 | $44,370 |
| Broward County Public Schools | Temporary Cafeteria Aide Job Details | Broward County Public Schools | Coral Springs, FL | 06/18/2025 | $31,305 |
| Western Boone County Community School Corporation | Cafeteria Aide/Dishwasher | Hope, IN | 06/16/2025 | $33,392 |
| Millville Public Schools | Cafeteria Aides | Millville, NJ | 06/15/2025 | $32,328 |
| Ohio Department of Education | Aide-Cafeteria/Playground | Wadsworth, OH | 05/29/2025 | $33,079 |
| Wadsworth City Schools | Aide-Cafeteria/Playground | Enon, OH | 05/28/2025 | $33,079 |
| Aerotek | Cafeteria Aide | Los Angeles, CA | 05/24/2025 | $48,001 |
| Beta Academy | CNP Cafeteria Aide School Year) | Houston, TX | 05/23/2025 | $28,175 |
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