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Cafeteria worker salary
Average cafeteria worker salary
$11.76
Average Cafeteria Worker Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for a cafeteria worker in the United States is approximately $24,465 per year, translating to about $12 per hour. The specific salary can vary significantly depending on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the type of establishment (e.g., school, hospital, corporate). For instance, cafeteria workers in urban areas often earn more than those in rural settings.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level cafeteria workers typically start at lower wages. However, with experience, salaries can increase. Those with several years in the field or supervisory roles may see earnings rise significantly, potentially exceeding $30,000 annually. Understanding these dynamics helps new workers to set realistic salary expectations and career goals.
Top Paying States
States such as California and New York often offer higher salaries due to increased living costs and demand for cafeteria services. Knowing where to apply can make a substantial difference in overall earnings.
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Where can a Cafeteria Worker earn more?
Cafeteria worker salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level cafeteria worker | $21,700 | $10.44 |
| Mid-level cafeteria worker | $27,100 | $13.03 |
| Senior-level cafeteria worker | $26,900 | $12.94 |
Cafeteria worker salary estimates from across the web
Average cafeteria worker salary by state
The highest-paying states for cafeteria workers are Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. The lowest average cafeteria worker salary states are Florida, Tennessee, and Alabama.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for cafeteria workers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $35,765 | $17.19 |
| 2 | Idaho | $33,944 | $16.32 |
| 3 | Oregon | $33,366 | $16.04 |
| 4 | California | $31,396 | $15.09 |
| 5 | Maine | $32,689 | $15.72 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $26,603 | $12.79 |
| 7 | Utah | $24,919 | $11.98 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $31,142 | $14.97 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $27,183 | $13.07 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $30,920 | $14.87 |
| 11 | Colorado | $26,967 | $12.96 |
| 12 | Vermont | $30,297 | $14.57 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $27,980 | $13.45 |
| 14 | Arizona | $25,708 | $12.36 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $22,347 | $10.74 |
| 16 | Michigan | $24,177 | $11.62 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $27,288 | $13.12 |
| 18 | Alaska | $25,083 | $12.06 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $25,341 | $12.18 |
| 20 | New York | $24,956 | $12.00 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $29,929 | $14.39 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $23,102 | $11.11 |
| 23 | Montana | $24,635 | $11.84 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $24,328 | $11.70 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $23,372 | $11.24 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $20,861 | $10.03 |
| 27 | Illinois | $24,527 | $11.79 |
| 28 | Delaware | $23,242 | $11.17 |
| 29 | Missouri | $21,733 | $10.45 |
| 30 | Indiana | $22,672 | $10.90 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $22,241 | $10.69 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $22,514 | $10.82 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $21,192 | $10.19 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $23,463 | $11.28 |
| 35 | Maryland | $24,573 | $11.81 |
| 36 | Kansas | $21,923 | $10.54 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $21,616 | $10.39 |
| 38 | Iowa | $21,616 | $10.39 |
| 39 | Florida | $20,134 | $9.68 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $19,445 | $9.35 |
| 41 | Virginia | $21,185 | $10.19 |
| 42 | Georgia | $20,364 | $9.79 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $20,222 | $9.72 |
| 44 | Texas | $20,519 | $9.86 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $19,195 | $9.23 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $20,414 | $9.81 |
| 47 | Nevada | $21,646 | $10.41 |
| 48 | Ohio | $20,600 | $9.90 |
| 49 | Alabama | $19,409 | $9.33 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $17,617 | $8.47 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $16,255 | $7.81 |
Highest paying cities for cafeteria workers
The highest-paying cities for cafeteria workers are Yuba City, CA, Boston, MA, and Denver, CO.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yuba City, CA | $33,167 | $15.95 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $28,063 | $13.49 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $26,996 | $12.98 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $25,795 | $12.40 |
| 5 | Logan, UT | $25,305 | $12.17 |
| 6 | Rockford, IL | $24,873 | $11.96 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $24,810 | $11.93 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $24,048 | $11.56 |
| 9 | Newark, DE | $23,329 | $11.22 |
| 10 | State College, PA | $22,667 | $10.90 |
| 11 | Anderson, IN | $22,616 | $10.87 |
| 12 | Blue Springs, MO | $21,850 | $10.50 |
| 13 | Suffolk, VA | $21,062 | $10.13 |
| 14 | Fort Worth, TX | $20,596 | $9.90 |
| 15 | Edmond, OK | $20,478 | $9.85 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $20,405 | $9.81 |
| 17 | Lakeland, FL | $20,164 | $9.69 |
| 18 | Memphis, TN | $19,497 | $9.37 |
Cafeteria worker salary details
A cafeteria worker's salary ranges from $18,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $32,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a cafeteria worker's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 75th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
| Average | $24,465 | $2,039 | $12 |
| 25th Percentile | $21,000 | $1,750 | $10 |
| 10th Percentile | $18,000 | $1,500 | $9 |
Highest paying cafeteria worker jobs
The highest paying types of cafeteria workers are dining room coordinator, food service associate, and banquet houseman.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus Boy | $24,432 | $2,036 | $11.75 | 17,550 |
| Server And Hostess | $28,020 | $2,335 | $13.47 | 97,109 |
| Busser | $24,111 | $2,009 | $11.59 | 14,989 |
| Bus Person | $24,058 | $2,005 | $11.57 | 47,277 |
| Dining Room Server | $29,540 | $2,462 | $14.20 | 99,079 |
| Breakfast Attendant | $26,791 | $2,233 | $12.88 | 63,312 |
Top companies hiring cafeteria workers now:
Which companies pay cafeteria workers the most?
Cafeteria worker salaries at Jefferson Elementary School District and Yuba City Unified School District are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average cafeteria worker salary at companies like Publix and Lehigh Valley Health Network are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson Elementary School District | $32,585 | $15.67 |
| 2 | Yuba City Unified School District | $32,194 | $15.48 |
| 3 | Publix | $30,077 | $14.46 |
| 4 | Lehigh Valley Health Network | $29,906 | $14.38 |
| 5 | Prime Healthcare | $29,821 | $14.34 |
| 6 | Bear Valley Unified School District | $29,404 | $14.14 |
| 7 | Mission Regional Medical Center | $29,083 | $13.98 |
| 8 | Flour Bluff ISD | $28,802 | $13.85 |
| 9 | American Addiction Centers | $28,791 | $13.84 |
| 10 | Rochester Regional Health | $28,759 | $13.83 |
| 11 | Clovis Municipal School District | $28,638 | $13.77 |
| 12 | Massachusetts General Hospital | $28,318 | $13.61 |
| 13 | Glendale Unified School District | $28,182 | $13.55 |
| 14 | West Liberty Foods | $28,111 | $13.51 |
| 15 | SLA Management | $27,687 | $13.31 |
| 16 | Bonita Unified School District | $27,587 | $13.26 |
| 17 | Bristol Public School District | $27,500 | $13.22 |
| 18 | Riverside Unified School District | $27,380 | $13.16 |
| 19 | Assabet Valley Regional Technical School | $27,097 | $13.03 |
| 20 | UMiami Health System | $26,596 | $12.79 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Cafeteria Worker salary by industry
The average cafeteria worker salary varies across industries:
- The average cafeteria worker salary in the hospitality industry is $29,244, the highest of any industry.
- The average cafeteria worker salary in the finance industry is $27,190.
- Cafeteria workers in the education industry earn an average salary of $26,210, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for cafeteria workers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hospitality | $29,244 | $14.06 |
| 2 | Health Care | $27,190 | $13.07 |
| 3 | Retail | $26,556 | $12.77 |
| 4 | Education | $26,210 | $12.60 |
High paying cafeteria worker jobs
Cafeteria worker salary trends
The average cafeteria worker salary has risen by $6,447 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average cafeteria worker earned $18,018 annually, but today, they earn $24,465 a year. That works out to a 24% change in pay for cafeteria workers over the last decade.
Compare cafeteria worker salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average cafeteria worker salary over time
Compare cafeteria worker salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Cafeteria worker salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $24,500 | $11.76 | +6.2% |
| 2024 | $23,000 | $11.04 | +5.1% |
| 2023 | $21,800 | $10.47 | +5.0% |
| 2022 | $20,700 | $9.95 | +4.5% |
| 2021 | $19,800 | $9.50 | +4.6% |
Recently added cafeteria worker salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade County Public Schools | Cafeteria Sub Workers(1997700) | Noma, FL | 06/27/2025 | $25,560 |
| Sodexo S A | Cafeteria Worker | Wilmington, NC | 06/25/2025 | $32,349 |
| Sealy ISD | Cafeteria Worker for School Year | Sealy, TX | 06/25/2025 | $25,566 |
| Waynesboro Area School District | Cafeteria Workers-Multiple Positions | Kane, PA | 06/24/2025 | $32,787 |
| Ashburnham-Westminster Regional Schools | Cafeteria Worker | Rowe, MA | 06/22/2025 | $35,458 |
| Hormel Foods Corp | Jennie-O Turkey Store-Cafeteria Worker | Barron, WI | 06/20/2025 | $38,046 |
| Chester County Intermediate Unit | (2) Cafeteria Worker-5 Days/Week | Downingtown, PA | 06/20/2025 | $30,825 |
| Premier Staffing-Lafayette | School Cafeteria Worker | Lafayette, LA | 06/20/2025 | $20,870 |
| Derry Area School District | Cafeteria Worker | Kane, PA | 06/20/2025 | $25,044 |
| Navarro Independent School District (Tx | Cafeteria Worker | Seguin, TX | 06/19/2025 | $28,529 |
Cafeteria worker salary FAQs
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