How to become a Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant or Bartender Helper
Official title: Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
Also called: Barback, Buffet Attendant, Bus Boy, Bus Person, Busser, Dining Room Attendant, Food Service Aide, Food Service Helper, Server Assistant, Server's Assistant
Facilitate food service. Clean tables; remove dirty dishes; replace soiled table linens; set tables; replenish supply of clean linens, silverware, glassware, and dishes; supply service bar with food; and serve items such as water, condiments, and coffee to patrons.
Main tasks
- Run cash registers.
- Serve ice water, coffee, rolls, or butter to patrons.
- Scrape and stack dirty dishes and carry dishes and other tableware to kitchens for cleaning.
- Wipe tables or seats with dampened cloths or replace dirty tablecloths.
- Set tables with clean linens, condiments, or other supplies.
- Greet and seat customers.
- Clean up spilled food or drink or broken dishes and remove empty bottles and trash.
- Maintain adequate supplies of items, such as clean linens, silverware, glassware, dishes, or trays.
How to become one
Food and beverage serving and related workers typically have no requirements for formal education or work experience to enter the occupation. They learn their skills on the job.
Typical education to start: No formal educational credential
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Cook, Chief.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $33,980 a year The middle half earn $28,330 to $37,250.
- About 546,600 people work in this job now, and about 575,500 are projected by 2035. (+5.3%)
- People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant or Bartender Helper?
Food and beverage serving and related workers typically have no requirements for formal education or work experience to enter the occupation. They learn their skills on the job.
How much does a Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant or Bartender Helper earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $33,980 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $28,330 to $37,250.
Is a Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant or Bartender Helper a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5% by 2035, from about 546,600 to about 575,500 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant or Bartender Helper?
Usually not. Only 10% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Cook, Chief.
Will AI change the work of a Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant or Bartender Helper?
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.