Home / Career Explorer / Food Preparation and Service

Waiters and Waitresses

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2024-2034)	Projected Growth (2024-2034)
National Statistics	$33760	456700	-0.7%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$33760

Median Wage (USD, 2024)

456700

Projected Job Openings (2024-2034)

-0.7%

Projected Growth (2024-2034)

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

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

Related Work Experience: N.A.

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Up to and including 1 month

On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month

Detailed Work Activities

Arrange tables or dining areas.
Collect dirty dishes or other tableware.
Schedule dining reservations.
Assist customers with seating arrangements.
Clean food preparation areas, facilities, or equipment.
Provide customers with general information or assistance.
Enforce rules or regulations.
Process customer bills or payments.
Communicate dining or order details to kitchen personnel.
Take customer orders.
Communicate with customers to resolve complaints or ensure satisfaction.
Serve food or beverages.
Cook foods.
Present food or beverage information or menus to customers.
Clean food service areas.
Prepare hot or cold beverages.
Prepare foods for cooking or serving.
Stock serving stations or dining areas with food or supplies.
Add garnishes to food.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

Collect payments from customers.
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.
Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals, and take action to correct any problems.
Take orders from patrons for food or beverages.
Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes.
Remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters, and take them to kitchen for cleaning.
Clean tables or counters after patrons have finished dining.
Serve food or beverages to patrons, and prepare or serve specialty dishes at tables as required.
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.
Prepare tables for meals, including setting up items such as linens, silverware, and glassware.
Stock service areas with supplies such as coffee, food, tableware, and linens.
Roll silverware, set up food stations, or set up dining areas to prepare for the next shift or for large parties.
Inform customers of daily specials.
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.
Fill salt, pepper, sugar, cream, condiment, and napkin containers.
Perform food preparation duties, such as preparing salads, appetizers, and cold dishes, portioning desserts, and brewing coffee.
Prepare hot, cold, and mixed drinks for patrons, and chill bottles of wine.
Escort customers to their tables.
Provide guests with information about local areas, including directions.
Garnish and decorate dishes in preparation for serving.
Bring wine selections to tables with appropriate glasses, and pour the wines for customers.
Describe and recommend wines to customers.

Work Styles

Innovation

A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on ways to accomplish work.

Innovation

Achievement Orientation

Intellectual Curiosity

Tolerance for Ambiguity

Initiative

Adaptability

Self-Confidence

Perseverance

Leadership Orientation

Humility

Sincerity

Empathy

Cooperation

Optimism

Social Orientation

Cautiousness

Attention to Detail

Dependability

Integrity

Stress Tolerance

Self-Control

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Session has been expired