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Waiters and Waitresses

Typical education: High school diplomaLower pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

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

Kinds of work

  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $35,230 Median per year · $16.94/hr Most earn $18,100–$64,720

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Explain how various menu items are prepared, describing ingredients and cooking methods.
  • Assist host or hostess by answering phones to take reservations or to-go orders, and by greeting, seating, and thanking guests.
  • Serve food or beverages to patrons, and prepare or serve specialty dishes at tables as required.
  • Take orders from patrons for food or beverages.
  • Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping and mopping floors, vacuuming carpet, tidying up server station, taking out trash, or checking and cleaning bathroom.
  • Present menus to patrons and answer questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Numerous Job Openings

United States
2% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 423,100 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Full-service restaurants75.7%
  • Special food services2.5%
  • Drinking places (alcoholic beverages)2.3%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: None

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: NoneEntry-level

Waiting tables is an entry-level job. Most people can start right after high school or with no prior work experience, and many learn the basics on the job within a few weeks.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finishing high school is the usual requirement, and it shows employers you can commit to a job and work with the public.

  2. Waiter/Waitress

    Start right away

    Most restaurants train new servers on the job, teaching you the menu, how to take orders, and how to handle payments. Experience here builds the skills needed for higher roles.

Where it can lead

  1. Lead Server

    1-2 years as a waiter of experience first

    You help train new staff, check on other tables, and handle small problems during a shift, which shows you can take on responsibility.

  2. First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers

    About 1 year or more in food service of experience first

    You schedule staff, oversee shifts, and make sure service runs smoothly, which takes solid people skills and knowledge of how the restaurant works.

  3. Food Service Manager

    1-2 years of supervisory experience of experience first

    You manage the whole restaurant, including budgets, hiring, inventory, and food safety, which usually means building on supervisor experience and sometimes adding formal training.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take a speech or communication classClear talking and listening help you take orders correctly and speak comfortably with guests.
  • Get a part-time job in food serviceWorking at a café, fast food counter, or restaurant gives you real customer experience and a reference for future jobs.
  • Take a math classAdding up checks, making change, and splitting bills are everyday parts of serving tables.
  • Volunteer at a community event that serves foodHelping at a church dinner, school fundraiser, or food bank teaches teamwork and how to work with the public.
  • Join a club that builds teamwork or leadershipGroups like student government or a sports team show you can work with others under pressure.

In college

  • Take a customer service or hospitality courseClasses in hospitality or customer service teach guest relations and how restaurants run, which helps you stand out.
  • Work a campus or restaurant jobCampus dining, a cafeteria, or a local restaurant job builds real serving experience and a work history.
  • Earn a food safety or alcohol service certificateShort certificates show employers you know safe food handling and responsible service, and many are quick to complete.
  • Join a student hospitality or business clubClubs connect you with people in restaurants and hotels and can lead to job leads or mentors.
  • Consider a restaurant management course if you want to move upA course in restaurant operations gives you a head start toward supervisor or manager roles later on.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local restaurant if you can shadow a server for a shift. Seeing the job up close helps you decide if it fits you.
  • Practice remembering orders and being friendly with people. These skills matter more to waiter jobs than any particular class.
  • Learn basic food safety and responsible alcohol service. Many areas offer short, inexpensive certificates that can make you a stronger job candidate.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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