What Does it Take to Be a Cafeteria, Food Concession, or Coffee Shop Counter Attendant?
Cafeteria, Food Concession, or Counter Attendant Job 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
- Set up dining areas for meals and clear them following meals.
- Scrub and polish counters, steam tables, and other equipment, and clean glasses, dishes, and fountain equipment.
- Arrange reservations for patrons of dining establishments.
- Replenish foods at serving stations.
- Take customers’ orders and write ordered items on tickets, giving ticket stubs to customers when needed to identify filled orders.
- Wrap menu item such as sandwiches, hot entrees, and desserts for serving or for takeout.
Featured schools near , edit
What a Cafeteria, Food Concession, or Counter Attendant Should Know
Below is a list of the skills most Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop Counter Attendants say are important on the job.
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.
Other Cafeteria, Food Concession, or Counter Attendant Job Titles
- Server
- Food Service Order Clerk
- Candy Bar Attendant
- Concession Stand Attendant
- Counter Person
Job Outlook for Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop Counter Attendants
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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 113,200 job openings in this field each 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.
Average Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop Counter Attendants Salary
Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop Counter Attendants make between $17,790 and $30,500 a year.

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 each U.S. state?
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 |
What Tools do Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop Counter Attendants Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop Counter Attendants:
- 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 do I Become a Cafeteria, Food Concession, or Counter Attendant?
What kind of Cafeteria, Food Concession, or Coffee Shop Counter Attendant requirements are there?

What work experience do I need to become a Cafeteria, Food Concession, or Counter Attendant?

Where Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop Counter Attendants Are Employed

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

Similar 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
Are you already one of the many Cafeteria, Food Concession, or Coffee Shop Counter Attendant in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |