Waiters and Waitresses

Waiters and waitresses take orders and serve food and beverages to customers in dining establishments.

Duties

Waiters and waitresses typically do the following:

• Greet customers, explain daily specials, and answer questions related to the menu
• Take orders from customers for food and beverages
• Relay food and beverage orders to the kitchen, such as via a point-of-sale system
• Prepare certain menu items, such as assembling garnishes or brewing coffee
• Carry trays of food or drinks from the kitchen to the dining tables
• Check on customers to confirm satisfaction and assist with other requests
• Clear tables after customers finish dining, or as needed
• Prepare customers’ itemized checks, take payment, and return change
• Set up dining areas and stock service areas

Waiters and waitresses, also called servers, ensure that customers have a satisfying dining experience. Specific duties vary with the establishment in which they work.

Before and between waiting on customers, servers usually prepare tables and work stations. Tasks may include refilling containers, such as napkin holders, salt and pepper shakers, and condiment dispensers; keeping tables from becoming overcrowded; and tidying the serving area and dining room. Servers also may prepare some foods and nonalcoholic drinks, such as assembling salads, brewing coffee, and portioning desserts. In fine-dining restaurants, they may set tables with linens, eating utensils, and glassware.

Food service duties include taking customers’ orders, placing those orders with the kitchen, and delivering food and drinks to the table. Servers attend to customers throughout the meal and collect payment at the end. In restaurants that do not employ bus staff, servers often are responsible for cleaning tables after customers finish dining.

In establishments that sell alcohol, servers verify that customers meet the age requirement for its purchase.

Servers may meet with managers and chefs before each shift to discuss topics such as the menu or specials, ingredients for potential food allergies, and coordination between the kitchen and dining room. They may have cleaning duties, such as vacuuming carpet and emptying trash, at the end of the shift.

Waiters and waitresses held about 2.3 million jobs in 2024. The largest employers of waiters and waitresses were as follows:

Waiters and waitresses stand most of their shift and often carry heavy trays of food, dishes, and drinks. The work may be hectic and fast-paced. During busy dining periods, they may be under pressure to serve customers quickly and efficiently. They must be able to work as part of a team with kitchen staff to ensure that customers receive prompt service.

Waiters and waitresses may be required to wear a uniform or to comply with a specific dress code.

Work Schedules

Part time work is common, and schedules may vary to include early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays.

In establishments that offer seasonal employment, waiters and waitresses may be employed for only a few months each year.

Waiters and waitresses typically do not need formal education to enter the occupation. They are typically trained on the job.

The median hourly wage for waiters and waitresses was $16.23 in May 2024.

Employment of waiters and waitresses is projected to grow 1 percent from 2024 to 2034, decline.

About 456,700 openings for waiters and waitresses are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.