Waiters and Waitresses
Waiters and waitresses are the friendly faces of restaurants who take customer orders, serve food and drinks, and make sure diners have a great experience. You'll use modern point-of-sale systems to send orders to the kitchen, carry trays of delicious food to tables, and handle payments while working as part of a fast-paced team. This job helps you develop excellent communication skills, multitasking abilities, and customer service expertise that are valuable in many careers. Many servers work flexible schedules that can fit around school and other commitments.
Did you know?
Restaurant servers in America rely heavily on customer tips for the majority of their income, creating significant variability in earnings based on shift timing, restaurant type, and customer generosity.
At a glance
Typical average pay
$31,900 Avg/yr
Growth
Stable
Top skill
Service Orientation
Things to consider
Physical and Schedule Demands
The role requires extensive standing, walking, and carrying while often working evenings, weekends, and holidays when most restaurants are busiest.
Limited Career Advancement
Serving positions typically offer minimal upward mobility within restaurants without pursuing additional training for management roles or transitioning to other hospitality sectors.
Key responsibilities
Clean tables or counters after patrons have finished dining.
Check patrons' identification to ensure that they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Write patrons' food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff.
Roll silverware, set up food stations, or set up dining areas to prepare for the next shift or for large parties.
Assist host or hostess by answering phones to take reservations or to-go orders, and by greeting, seating, and thanking guests.