Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
SOC Code: 35-9011
Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers carries a 23% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $32,670 and +6.3% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 527,400 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 23% AI exposure, Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers sits 14 points below the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 11% of them. It ranks among the more AI-resilient roles in the dataset.
Where Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers has ai exposure of 23%. Distribution: 1 occupations at 0-10%; 43 occupations at 10-20%; 184 occupations at 20-30%; 332 occupations at 30-40%; 158 occupations at 40-50%; 64 occupations at 50-60%; 29 occupations at 60-70%; 15 occupations at 70-80%; 5 occupations at 80-90%; 1 occupations at 90-100%.
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers (SOC 35-9011) carries an AI exposure score of 23%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 527,400 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +6.3% change through 2034 - modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $32,670, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires No formal educational credential, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Run cash registers.
- 2. Serve ice water, coffee, rolls, or butter to patrons.
- 3. Scrape and stack dirty dishes and carry dishes and other tableware to kitchens for cleaning.
- 4. Wipe tables or seats with dampened cloths or replace dirty tablecloths.
- 5. Set tables with clean linens, condiments, or other supplies.
- 6. Greet and seat customers.
- 7. Clean up spilled food or drink or broken dishes and remove empty bottles and trash.
- 8. Maintain adequate supplies of items, such as clean linens, silverware, glassware, dishes, or trays.
- 9. Locate items requested by customers.
- 10. Fill beverage or ice dispensers.
Key Skills Required
- Active Listening
- Coordination
- Service Orientation
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Social Perceptiveness
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Time Management
Knowledge Areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Food Production
- English Language
- Sales and Marketing
- Administration and Management
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Public Safety and Security
- Production and Processing
- Education and Training
- Psychology
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers?
Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers has an AI exposure score of 23%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers is projected to grow by 6.3% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 527,400 workers.
What skills are needed for Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers?
Key skills for Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers include Active Listening, Coordination, Service Orientation, and others. Typical entry-level education is No formal educational credential.
How much do Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers earn?
The median annual wage for Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers is $32,670, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers?
The typical entry-level education for Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers is No formal educational credential. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Short-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers?
Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Related Occupations
Career Guides
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).