Waiters & Waitresses

Also Called: Food Server, Server, Waiter, Waitress

High School Diploma/GED

usually needed

Not Available
(Students Only)
Match Percentage

$18,600

Entry Salary

Bright

Job outlook

What Waiters & Waitresses do

Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.

  • Take orders from patrons for food or beverages.
  • Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals and take action to correct any problems.
  • Check patrons' identification to ensure that they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Industry Areas:

Hospitality

Training Program Areas:

Culinary Arts • Hotel & Lodging • OCT-Only Hospitality

Expand For Additional Details

Work Context

  • Contact With Others
  • Spend Time Walking and Running
  • Spend Time Standing
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
  • Physical Proximity

Tools

  • Point of sale POS terminal
  • Bar code reader equipment
  • Commercial use cutlery
  • Paging controllers
  • Magnetic stripe readers and encoders

Technology

Web page creation and editing software
Facebook
Instant messaging software
Blink
Point of sale POS software
Hospitality Control Solutions Aloha Point-of-Sale
Intuit QuickBooks Point of Sale

The Education & Training You Need

Skills

  • Active Listening
  • Service Orientation
  • Speaking
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Coordination

Knowledge

Business
customer service
sales and marketing
Arts and Humanities
English language
Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
food production

Education

  • 57% High school diploma or equivalent
  • 28% Less than high school diploma
  • 7% Bachelor's degree

Experience

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

What are some related occupations at different educational levels?


Job Training Match

Waiters & Waitresses Currently Selected

Educational Level

High School Diploma or Equivalent

 Job Training Match

Cooks, Private Household

Educational Level

Post-secondary, non-degree

 Job Training Match

Chefs & Head Cooks

Educational Level

Associate's Degree

 Job Training Match

Biological Technicians

Educational Level

Bachelor's Degree

Educational Level

Advanced Degree

What are your training options on the pathway to this occupation?

Advanced Training

  • Earle C. Clements - Job Corps

    Morganfield, Kentucky

  • Exeter - Job Corps

    Exeter, Rhode Island

ACT & College

  • Ancilla College

    Donaldson, IN

  • Athens Technical College

    Athens, GA

Apprenticeships

Earn while you learn. Apprenticeships combines paid training & specialized classes to help workers enter highly skilled occupations. Click here for to locate an apprenticeship near you.

Military

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Are You a Good Fit?

Occupation Traits

    • Conventional (Organizer)
    • Enterprising (Persuader)
    • Social (Helper)

Work Styles

  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Self Control
  • Cooperation
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Social Orientation

Values

  • Relationships
  • Support
  • Achievement

Abilities

  • Verbal
  • Attention
  • Endurance

This is what Waiters & Waitresses across the country typically make.

$8.94 / hour
$18,600 /year

Entry Level

$15.36 / hour
$31,940 /year

Median Level

$28.89 / hour
$60,100 /year

Experienced Level

Income information reflects a regional average.
Income information reflects a national average.

This career’s National Job Outlook is

Bright

Please be sure to verify the outlook of this occupation with your instructor.

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