Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers Salary in Iowa City, IA
The median pay for a dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers in Iowa City, IA is $27,250/year ($13.1/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $18K at the entry level to $37K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.51), which stretches that salary to about $29,778 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $962/month — about 49.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $27K get you in Iowa City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Iowa City’s Regional Price Parity (91.51). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa City, IA
Entry-level dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers (10th percentile) start around $18K. Mid-career wages sit at $27K. Top earners bring in $37K or more, a $20K spread from bottom to top.
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $47K | +44% | 4,460 |
| Washington | $39K | +19% | 7,070 |
| District of Columbia | $38K | +17% | 4,040 |
| Maine | $37K | +15% | 1,770 |
| Vermont | $37K | +13% | 650 |
| New York | $37K | +13% | 44,040 |
| Arizona | $36K | +10% | 11,520 |
| California | $36K | +10% | 78,320 |
| Maryland | $36K | +9% | 13,080 |
| Massachusetts | $35K | +6% | 10,820 |
| Connecticut | $34K | +4% | 6,590 |
| Oregon | $33K | +2% | 3,910 |
| New Jersey | $33K | +0% | 13,890 |
| North Dakota | $33K | -0% | 730 |
| Virginia | $31K | -4% | 9,480 |
| Florida | $30K | -7% | 46,540 |
| Rhode Island | $30K | -8% | 2,720 |
| Michigan | $30K | -8% | 14,470 |
| Nebraska | $30K | -9% | 1,830 |
| Illinois | $29K | -10% | 20,510 |
| Tennessee | $29K | -10% | 11,470 |
| Delaware | $29K | -10% | 960 |
| Minnesota | $29K | -11% | 7,140 |
| New Mexico | $29K | -11% | 3,320 |
| Georgia | $29K | -12% | 12,680 |
| Pennsylvania | $29K | -12% | 19,940 |
| South Dakota | $29K | -12% | 2,490 |
| Alaska | $29K | -12% | 350 |
| Montana | $29K | -12% | 1,000 |
| Indiana | $29K | -13% | 10,730 |
| Missouri | $28K | -13% | 8,220 |
| Idaho | $28K | -13% | 1,070 |
| Kansas | $28K | -13% | 2,670 |
| Ohio | $28K | -14% | 12,370 |
| Utah | $28K | -15% | 3,790 |
| Kentucky | $27K | -16% | 2,620 |
| Louisiana | $27K | -17% | 5,620 |
| Arkansas | $27K | -17% | 3,260 |
| Oklahoma | $27K | -18% | 3,990 |
| Texas | $27K | -18% | 55,560 |
| Iowa | $27K | -18% | 3,020 |
| West Virginia | $27K | -18% | 900 |
| North Carolina | $26K | -19% | 9,190 |
| Nevada | $26K | -20% | 13,240 |
| Wisconsin | $26K | -20% | 6,430 |
| South Carolina | $25K | -24% | 5,500 |
| New Hampshire | $24K | -26% | 1,490 |
| Alabama | $22K | -32% | 3,700 |
| Wyoming | $22K | -32% | 710 |
| Mississippi | $22K | -33% | 3,420 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers make in Iowa City, IA?
The median is $27,250 a year, that works out to about $13 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $17,610, and experienced dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers can clear $37,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $27K enough to live in Iowa City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,896/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $962/month, which eats 50.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers salary go in Iowa City?
Iowa City has a Regional Price Parity of 91.51 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers salary is worth about $29,778 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.