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Counter Attendant, Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop Salary in U.S.

The salary statistics of counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop are shown in Table 1. In the next few tables we compare the average salaries of counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop within different industry sectors and in the 50 states of the United States. The counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop annual salary statistics are from the national compensation survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2022 and published in April 2023 [1].

Table 1. Counter Attendant, Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop Salary in U.S. (2022 survey)

Percentile BracketAverage Annual Salary
10th Percentile Wage
$17,790
25th Percentile Wage
$19,320
50th Percentile Wage
$22,330
75th Percentile Wage
$25,280
90th Percentile Wage
$30,500

Table 1 shows the average annual salary for counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop. The average annual salary for the 90th percentile (the top 10 percent of the highest paid) counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop is $30,500. The median annual salary (50th percentile) is $22,330. The average annual salary for the bottom 10 percent is $17,790. Take note that in the United States, the annual salary of the 90th percentile (the top 10 percent of the highest paid) is almost 71% higher than that of the bottom 10 percent.

Median salary trend

The table and chart below show the trend of the median salary of counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop from 2012 to 2018.

YearMedian SalaryYearly Growth6-Year Growth
2018
$22,330
4.70% 16.88%
2017
$21,280
6.16% -
2016
$19,970
3.71% -
2015
$19,230
2.55% -
2014
$18,740
0.21% -
2013
$18,700
0.75% -
2012
$18,560
- -

Table 2. Counter Attendant, Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop Salary by Industry Sector (2022 survey)

The average salaries of counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop in 17 major industry sectors are shown in Table 2. We note that the salaries vary considerably within different industry sectors. The highest paying industry sector for counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop occupations is the health care and social assistance sector with an annual salary $25,210. The lowest paying sector is the construction sector (annual salary $18,320).

Industry Sector Median Annual Salary
Health Care and Social Assistance
$25,210
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
$24,610
Retail Trade
$23,820
Educational Services
$23,790
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
$23,690
Management of Companies and Enterprises
$23,450
Finance and Insurance
$23,400
Manufacturing
$23,330
Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government)
$22,700
Transportation and Warehousing
$22,490
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
$22,150
Accommodation and Food Services
$22,060
Wholesale Trade
$22,010
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
$21,780
Information
$20,760
Federal, State, and Local Government
$20,480
Construction
$18,320

Table 3. Median Annual Wage of Counter Attendants, Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop by States (2022 survey)

From the above tables we note that not only counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop salaries vary considerably based on one's education and experience, and the industry sectors, they also change considerably from state to state. In the following table we compare the median salary of counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop in all 50 states of the United States. We note that the median annual salaries range from $18,110 to $28,910. The highest paying state for counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop is District of Columbia with a median annual salary of $28,910. The lowest paying state is Louisiana with a median annual salary of $18,110. For more salary information of counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop profession in a specific state, use the links in the table.

State Name Median Annual Salary
District of Columbia
$28,910
Washington
$25,460
California
$25,380
Massachusetts
$25,080
Arizona
$24,530
Oregon
$24,420
Nevada
$24,190
Rhode Island
$24,030
Vermont
$24,010
Connecticut
$23,960
New York
$23,840
Hawaii
$23,600
Colorado
$23,330
Alaska
$23,150
North Dakota
$22,870
Minnesota
$22,350
Illinois
$22,250
Maine
$22,150
Maryland
$22,050
New Hampshire
$21,930
Virgin Islands
$21,280
Michigan
$21,270
Virginia
$20,700
Nebraska
$20,500
South Dakota
$20,430
West Virginia
$20,370
Iowa
$20,320
Ohio
$20,220
Utah
$20,210
New Jersey
$20,170
Missouri
$20,120
Montana
$20,120
Delaware
$19,990
Arkansas
$19,800
Wyoming
$19,640
Texas
$19,590
Guam
$19,580
North Carolina
$19,570
Florida
$19,550
New Mexico
$19,370
Pennsylvania
$19,320
Kentucky
$19,240
South Carolina
$19,150
Idaho
$19,000
Alabama
$18,990
Georgia
$18,940
Wisconsin
$18,850
Oklahoma
$18,760
Indiana
$18,720
Kansas
$18,560
Tennessee
$18,480
Mississippi
$18,240
Puerto Rico
$18,120
Louisiana
$18,110