What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in the U.S. earn more than $33,980 a year — the middle 80% land between $21,300 and $46,570. About 542,750 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Service and sales workers earn about ₹15,575 a month on average — around ₹1.9 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$33,980typical pay / year
542,750people in this work
$46,570+top 10% earn
₹1.9 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Care1
Clean tables and seats
+Wipe down buffet tables and seats between shifts with approved disinfectant, straighten chairs and remove…
Clean tables and seats
+Wipe down buffet tables and seats between shifts with approved disinfectant, straighten chairs and remove crumbs into the bin, inspect for sticky spots or stains and escalate any upholstery damage to maintenance so the dining room opens on time.
The tools that do the workRestaurantPlus PROjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Sending & sharing1
Serve food to customers
+Keep the hot line stocked and serve plated portions to guests, refill steam wells as items run low, offer…
Serve food to customers
+Keep the hot line stocked and serve plated portions to guests, refill steam wells as items run low, offer seconds politely, note any allergies or special requests to the cook, and signal the supervisor if a dish runs out so a replacement can be prepped.
The tools that do the workPlexis Software Plexis POSjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Move2
Set tables with linens and condiments
+Lay clean linens on each table, set salt, pepper and condiment caddies to company standard placements,…
Set tables with linens and condiments
+Lay clean linens on each table, set salt, pepper and condiment caddies to company standard placements, replace any stained napkins immediately, and confirm place settings match the event checklist before seating begins.
The tools that do the workCafe Carteljob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Facilitate food service
+Monitor the buffet flow, clear empty pans and replace with fresh batches from the pass, keep sneeze guards…
Facilitate food service
+Monitor the buffet flow, clear empty pans and replace with fresh batches from the pass, keep sneeze guards clear, direct guests during busy periods to avoid congestion, and report any cross-contamination concerns to the head chef.
The tools that do the workRestaurantPlus PROjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Fixing2
Remove dirty dishes
+Collect dirty plates and trays from guest tables and the clearing station, scrape excess food into the waste…
Remove dirty dishes
+Collect dirty plates and trays from guest tables and the clearing station, scrape excess food into the waste bin, stack dishes safely for the wash line, and remove any broken crockery to the maintenance area while logging incidents.
The tools that do the workPlexis Software Plexis POSjob descriptionsO*NET
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Help bartenders prepare drinks
+Set up the bar station for tonight’s shift: polish six highball glasses, chill two bottles of house vodka and…
Help bartenders prepare drinks
+Set up the bar station for tonight’s shift: polish six highball glasses, chill two bottles of house vodka and one gin, lay out cocktail napkins and straws, and show Diego the blender and shakers location so he can start service at 18:00.
The tools that do the workCafe CartelO*NETWikipedia
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The daily work14
Locate items requested by customers
+Find the lemon curd, extra forks and the vegan pastry the guest at table 12 asked for, check the cold-holding…
Locate items requested by customers
+Find the lemon curd, extra forks and the vegan pastry the guest at table 12 asked for, check the cold-holding labels match the delivery sheet, bring the three items to table 12 within five minutes and note any missing stock.
The tools that do the workPlexis Software Plexis POSjob descriptionsO*NET
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Monitor and maintain hygiene standards
+Walk the buffet line every 20 minutes, inspect food-contact surfaces and sneeze guards, record temperatures…
Monitor and maintain hygiene standards
+Walk the buffet line every 20 minutes, inspect food-contact surfaces and sneeze guards, record temperatures and any spills, replenish sanitizer and single-use tongs, and report any noncompliance to the shift supervisor immediately.
The tools that do the workRestaurantPlus PROESCOWikipedia
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Run cash registers.
+Set up the register for the lunch shift, count the starting float, run three test transactions to confirm…
Run cash registers.
+Set up the register for the lunch shift, count the starting float, run three test transactions to confirm card and cash functions, log the opening count, and notify management if totals or the card terminal fail.
The tools that do the workCafe CartelO*NET
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Fill beverage or ice dispensers.
+Top up the beverage station and ice bins before the rush: check machine water supply, refill ice to marked…
Fill beverage or ice dispensers.
+Top up the beverage station and ice bins before the rush: check machine water supply, refill ice to marked level, replace empty syrup or juice containers, wipe drip trays, and note any equipment faults for maintenance.
The tools that do the workPlexis Software Plexis POSO*NET
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Wash glasses or other serving equipment at bars.
+Collect the used glassware basket from the bar, sort cracked or stained pieces, run the appropriate wash…
Wash glasses or other serving equipment at bars.
+Collect the used glassware basket from the bar, sort cracked or stained pieces, run the appropriate wash cycle, air-dry and return clean glasses to the bar in rotation, and flag any equipment issues to the bar lead.
The tools that do the workRestaurantPlus PROO*NET
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Slice and pit fruit used to garnish drinks.
+Wash and pit the limes and lemons, slice consistent wedges for the six drink stations, place garnishes in…
Slice and pit fruit used to garnish drinks.
+Wash and pit the limes and lemons, slice consistent wedges for the six drink stations, place garnishes in chilled covered trays, label with prep time and discard window, and restock stations before the evening shift.
The tools that do the workCafe CartelO*NET
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Maintain cleaning equipment
+Check and service the walk-behind scrubber, replace worn pads and squeegee, top up detergent and battery…
Maintain cleaning equipment
+Check and service the walk-behind scrubber, replace worn pads and squeegee, top up detergent and battery water, restock mop buckets and labelled cleaning cloths, log completed maintenance in the equipment ledger by 3pm and report faults to Facilities Lead Sarah.
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Clean building floors
+Strip, damp-mop and finish the main dining hall floor starting at 9am, treat high-traffic zones with approved…
Clean building floors
+Strip, damp-mop and finish the main dining hall floor starting at 9am, treat high-traffic zones with approved neutral cleaner, allow full drying before reopening, replace wet-floor signage and note completion for Duty Manager Carlos.
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Clear tables after customers leave
+Clear each vacated table in the main buffet dining room, stack plates and cutlery by size, wipe crumbs into…
Clear tables after customers leave
+Clear each vacated table in the main buffet dining room, stack plates and cutlery by size, wipe crumbs into the bin, reset condiments and a clean place setting, and flag any broken crockery to maintenance before the next seating.
The tools that do the workRestaurantPlus PROWikipedia
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Clean dining area and utensils
+Collect all used dishes and utensils from the dining area, scrape and rinse plates at the station, separate…
Clean dining area and utensils
+Collect all used dishes and utensils from the dining area, scrape and rinse plates at the station, separate cutlery for sanitising, mop spill zones, and return cleaned utensils to service trays within fifteen minutes of peak shift change.
The tools that do the workCafe CartelWikipedia
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Help with food and beverage delivery
+Bring plated orders and beverage trays from the kitchen to table numbers 12, 14 and 15 during the lunch rush,…
Help with food and beverage delivery
+Bring plated orders and beverage trays from the kitchen to table numbers 12, 14 and 15 during the lunch rush, confirm special requests with the server, top up water glasses, and report any delays to the floor supervisor immediately.
The tools that do the workPlexis Software Plexis POSWikipedia
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Dispose of trash and recyclables
+Empty tabletop bins and clear overflowing waste in the buffet area, separate recyclables from general waste…
Dispose of trash and recyclables
+Empty tabletop bins and clear overflowing waste in the buffet area, separate recyclables from general waste into the labelled containers, compact full bags at the service exit, and note pickup needs on the shift log before leaving.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelWikipedia
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Assist customers in handling personal items and articles in changing rooms
+Assist customers at the changing rooms by offering locker space, store coats and bags securely while they…
Assist customers in handling personal items and articles in changing rooms
+Assist customers at the changing rooms by offering locker space, store coats and bags securely while they dine, label items with ticket numbers, and alert security if an item appears suspicious or the customer requests retention overnight.
The tools that do the workFacebookESCO
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Help with lost and found issues
+Receive lost items from guests at the reception desk, log each article with a description and timestamp,…
Help with lost and found issues
+Receive lost items from guests at the reception desk, log each article with a description and timestamp, place items in the designated lost and found cabinet, and call the owner if contact details were provided, keeping the log updated until collection.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WindowsESCO
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Says who?
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses