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Barback: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$33,980median pay per year, or $16.34 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $21,300lowest 10% earn less
  2. $28,33025th percentile
  3. $33,980median
  4. $37,25075th percentile
  5. $46,570top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers, which includes barbacks, had a median pay of $33,980 a year[1]. Jobs are projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+5.3%[2]
Openings per year
95,300[6]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[7]

How much do barbacks make?

O*NET lists barback as a job title within Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers[8]. In May 2025 the median wage for this group was $33,980 a year, or $16.34 an hour[1]. The average was $34,230 a year, or $16.46 an hour[9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $21,300 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $46,570[4]. In hourly terms, the 10th percentile was $10.24 and the 90th percentile was $22.39[10]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages rather than a starting salary[11].

Measure Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[4][10] $21,300 $10.24
25th percentile[4][10] $28,330 $13.62
Median[1] $33,980 $16.34
75th percentile[4][10] $37,250 $17.91
90th percentile[4][10] $46,570 $22.39

For comparison, the median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[5]. The data covers wage and salary workers, about 542,750 of them[12]. It leaves out the self-employed and does not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits[13].

Pay by state and city

Median pay differs a lot by state. Hawaii was listed first at $51,200, followed by Washington at $41,420 and the District of Columbia at $39,080[14]. Texas had the lowest median among the listed states at $21,550[14].

The most jobs were in California (75,460), Texas (60,270), Florida (50,400), New York (41,340) and Illinois (21,290)[15].

Among metro areas, Kahului-Wailuku, HI had the highest median at $61,230, then Urban Honolulu, HI at $50,200 and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $45,120[16]. The metro area with the most jobs was New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ with 37,600 jobs and a median of $36,980[17].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Hawaii[14]$51,2004,380
Washington$41,4206,160
District of Columbia$39,0804,130
Maine$38,5601,540
Maryland$37,02013,240
Oregon$36,8003,910
Colorado$36,7908,460
New York$36,74041,340
Arizona$36,50013,300
California$36,01075,460
Massachusetts$35,38011,510
Connecticut$34,5405,810
New Jersey$34,17016,490
Vermont$34,120n/a
Florida$33,28050,400
Virginia$32,41011,910
Delaware$31,8801,540
Missouri$31,85011,590
Illinois$31,20021,290
Rhode Island$31,2002,880
North Dakota$31,010890
Nebraska$30,6902,160
Michigan$30,39013,050
South Dakota$29,9202,550
Tennessee$29,47011,330
Ohio$29,40013,670
New Mexico$29,3602,960
Pennsylvania$29,31020,800
Minnesota$29,2107,220
Georgia$28,92014,540
Indiana$28,32010,220
Iowa$28,2103,250
Idaho$27,8101,520
Arkansas$27,6702,160
North Carolina$27,56011,230
Montana$27,5101,150
Nevada$27,46012,750
West Virginia$27,1501,170
Wisconsin$27,0807,220
Alaska$27,040860
Utah$27,0104,490
Oklahoma$26,8305,400
South Carolina$26,8306,220
Louisiana$26,7804,810
Kentucky$26,3303,350
Kansas$26,3002,960
New Hampshire$26,2901,510
Wyoming$24,600650
Mississippi$23,1802,620
Alabama$22,4703,420
Texas$21,55060,270

How to become a barback

The path is short. The BLS profile covers a wider group of related serving jobs, so these details describe that group[18].

The same profile says most states set a minimum age of 18 for workers who serve alcohol[22]. In an O*NET survey of 20 workers, 74% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required and 22% said less than a high school diploma[23].

Some workers later move up to waiter, waitress or bartender jobs, or to supervisory roles[24]. Useful skills include communication, customer service, stamina and strength. The work can involve lifting stock and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds[25][26][27][28].

What barbacks and dining room attendants do

O*NET describes the job as helping food service run smoothly[29]. Common tasks include:

Workers report job titles such as barback, busser, buffet attendant and dining room attendant[8].

Where they work

In the wider group the BLS profile covers, 81% of jobs were in food services and drinking places in 2025[31]. Workers spend most of a shift on their feet and often carry heavy trays or glassware[32]. Slips, cuts and burns are common injuries[33].

Part-time work is common. Shifts are often early in the morning, late in the evening, on weekends or on holidays[34]. Some work is seasonal, and school cafeteria workers may work only during the school year[35]. The profile also says this group has more workers aged 16 to 19 than any other occupation[36].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 5.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 546,600 to 575,500 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[3].

About 95,300 openings are projected each year, on average[6]. Openings count jobs left by workers who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year 8.6% of workers leave the labor force and 7.9% move to a different occupation[37].

Is it a good fit?

The facts suggest this job suits someone who wants to start without formal education, since entry typically needs only short on-the-job training[7]. Pay is below the all-occupation median[1][5], and it varies widely by state[14]. The work is physical and shifts can fall on evenings and weekends[27][34]. Growth is projected to be faster than for all occupations[2][3].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[38].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a barback make an hour?
The median wage for the BLS group that includes barbacks was $16.34 an hour in May 2025[1].
What education do you need to be a barback?
No formal educational credential is typically needed[7].
How long does barback training take?
On-the-job training typically lasts from a few days to several weeks[20].
Which state pays barbacks the most?
Hawaii was listed first with a median of $51,200 a year[14].
Are barback jobs in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 5.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in the US was $33,980 per year and $16.34 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers is projected to grow 5.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 546,600 to 575,500 jobs (a change of +28,900). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers: 10th percentile $21,300, 25th percentile $28,330, 75th percentile $37,250, 90th percentile $46,570. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 95,300 openings for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. O*NET 35-9011.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Barback, Buffet Attendant, Bus Boy, Bus Person, Busser, Dining Room Attendant, Food Service Aide, Food Service Helper. O*NET OnLine
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers was $34,230 per year and $16.46 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers: 10th percentile $10.24, 25th percentile $13.62, 75th percentile $17.91, 90th percentile $22.39. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 542,750 people were employed as Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. Median annual wage for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers jobs: California 75,460; Texas 60,270; Florida 50,400; New York 41,340; Illinois 21,290. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Kahului-Wailuku, HI $61,230; Urban Honolulu, HI $50,200; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $45,120; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,710; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $39,310; Portland-South Portland, ME $39,170; Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $38,210; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $38,120. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 37,600 (median $36,980); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 24,860 (median $35,800); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 18,600 (median $21,050); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 18,100 (median $31,200); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 16,740 (median $21,850); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 16,490 (median $34,710). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  18. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers" covers Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET 35-9011.00 survey of workers (20 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 74%, Less than a High School Diploma 22% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. O*NET description of Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers. O*NET OnLine
  30. O*NET task list for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers. O*NET OnLine
  31. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of food and beverage serving and related workers in 2025: Food services and drinking places 81%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  37. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers: 8.6% of workers leave the labor force each year and 7.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  38. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

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. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.