Food Preparation & Serving
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
Also called: Barback, Buffet Attendant, Bus Boy, Bus Person
US median pay
$33,980
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+5.3%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
95,300
546,600 employed
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Locate items requested by customers.
- Fill beverage or ice dispensers.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Service Orientation3.0/5
- Coordination3.0/5
- Social Perceptiveness2.9/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9/5
- Time Management2.2/5
- Management of Personnel Resources2.2/5
- Operations Monitoring2.1/5
- Troubleshooting2.0/5
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service4.3/5
- Food Production3.2/5
- English Language3.2/5
- Sales and Marketing3.0/5
- Administration and Management2.8/5
- Personnel and Human Resources2.5/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): No formal educational credential.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma74%
- Less than high school22%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.