Life As a Cafeteria, Food Concession, or Coffee Shop Counter Attendant
Occupation Description Serve food to diners at counter or from a steam table.
A Day in the Life of a Cafeteria, Food Concession, or Counter Attendant
- Take customers' orders and write ordered items on tickets, giving ticket stubs to customers when needed to identify filled orders.
- Arrange reservations for patrons of dining establishments.
- Order items needed to replenish supplies.
- Wrap menu item such as sandwiches, hot entrees, and desserts for serving or for takeout.
- Add relishes and garnishes to food orders, according to instructions.
- Brew coffee and tea, and fill containers with requested beverages.
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Skills Needed to be a Cafeteria, Food Concession, or Counter Attendant
These are the skills Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop Counter Attendants say are the most useful in their careers:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Types of Cafeteria, Food Concession, or Coffee Shop Counter Attendant
- Sandwich Counter Attendant
- Soda Jerker
- Counter Clerk
- Restaurant Worker
- Fountain Dispenser
Cafeteria, Food Concession, or Counter Attendant Employment Estimates
In the United States, there were 505,200 jobs for Cafeteria, Food Concession, or Coffee Shop Counter Attendant in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 4.6% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 23,100 new jobs for Cafeteria, Food Concession, or Coffee Shop Counter Attendant by 2026. There will be an estimated 113,200 positions for Cafeteria, Food Concession, or Counter Attendant per year.

The states with the most job growth for Cafeteria, Food Concession, or Counter Attendant are Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Minnesota, or Ohio. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Cafeteria, Food Concession, or Counter Attendant
The typical yearly salary for Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop Counter Attendants is somewhere between $17,790 and $30,500.

Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop Counter Attendants who work in District of Columbia, Washington, or California, make the highest salaries.
How much do Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop Counter Attendants make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $20,180 |
Alaska | $24,750 |
Arizona | $25,530 |
Arkansas | $22,030 |
California | $28,120 |
Colorado | $24,300 |
Connecticut | $25,860 |
Delaware | $21,690 |
District of Columbia | $31,780 |
Florida | $20,970 |
Georgia | $19,830 |
Hawaii | $25,060 |
Idaho | $21,920 |
Illinois | $23,830 |
Indiana | $19,600 |
Iowa | $21,090 |
Kansas | $19,300 |
Kentucky | $20,150 |
Louisiana | $18,420 |
Maine | $23,040 |
Maryland | $24,010 |
Massachusetts | $26,780 |
Michigan | $22,870 |
Minnesota | $23,290 |
Mississippi | $18,720 |
Missouri | $21,300 |
Montana | $21,320 |
Nebraska | $21,690 |
Nevada | $25,440 |
New Hampshire | $23,440 |
New Jersey | $21,800 |
New Mexico | $20,180 |
New York | $25,680 |
North Carolina | $20,980 |
North Dakota | $23,850 |
Ohio | $22,340 |
Oklahoma | $19,520 |
Oregon | $26,020 |
Pennsylvania | $20,690 |
Rhode Island | $24,610 |
South Carolina | $20,010 |
South Dakota | $21,860 |
Tennessee | $19,270 |
Texas | $21,140 |
Utah | $21,900 |
Vermont | $25,490 |
Virginia | $21,640 |
Washington | $27,720 |
West Virginia | $21,850 |
Wisconsin | $19,890 |
Wyoming | $20,840 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop Counter Attendants
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop Counter Attendants may use on a daily basis:
- Data entry software
- Microsoft Windows
- Point of sale POS software
- Plexis Software Plexis POS
- RestaurantPlus PRO
- Aldelo Systems Aldelo for Restaurants Pro
- Foodman Home-Delivery
How to Become a Cafeteria, Food Concession, or Counter Attendant
What education or degrees do I need to become a Cafeteria, Food Concession, or Coffee Shop Counter Attendant?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Cafeteria, Food Concession, or Counter Attendant?

Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop Counter Attendants Sector

The table below shows the approximate number of Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop Counter Attendants employed by various industries.

Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Cafeteria, Food Concession, or Coffee Shop Counter Attendant might also be interested in the following careers:
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
- Library Assistants, Clerical
- Amusement and Recreation Attendants
Those who work as a Cafeteria, Food Concession, or Coffee Shop Counter Attendant sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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