Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Waiters and Waitresses
Waiters and Waitresses take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
Table of contents
What they do
Waiters and Waitresses 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.
- Collect payments from customers.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Waiters and Waitresses take orders from patrons for food or beverages. They collect payments from customers.
A typical day for a Waiter and Waitress will also include:
- Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals and take action to correct any problems.
- Write patrons’ food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff.
- Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes.
- Present menus to patrons and answer questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request.
- Remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters and take them to the kitchen for cleaning.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Waiters and Waitresses also escort customers to their tables. They may also provide guests with information about local areas, including giving directions.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Waiters and Waitresses bring wine selections to tables with appropriate glasses and pour the wines for customers. They might also fill salt, pepper, sugar, cream, condiment, and napkin containers.
In addition, they assist hosts or hostesses by answering phones to take reservations or to-go orders, and by greeting, seating, and thanking guests.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them perform food preparation duties such as preparing salads, appetizers, and cold dishes, portioning desserts, and brewing coffee.
To some Waiters and Waitresses, it is also their responsibility to explain how various menu items are prepared, describing ingredients and cooking methods.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
56% said they were satisfied with their job and 30% said they found their job meaningful.
I had worked as a server in Holiday Inn during the summer while I was a student. My position was food server but we served cold and hot beverages as well.
Working in the Bistro
I sometimes worked in the Bistro, during breakfast and sometimes I worked on the patio, which was an afternoon shift. There were more things to do to prepare for serving breakfast, considering you have to polish the silver, make coffee, set the tables, make the Mimosas and Bloody Marys. We didn’t have a busser at that time so every waiter had to set their own tables up. We also had the buffet, which really helped. I also did some room service in the morning, which I think took most of my time and like I said, cleaning up the tables, especially if there were people with kids.
Working on the Patio
Working on the patio was definitely more stressful in some ways but also more rewarding. You have to clean the tables and that is pretty much it as you go for the prep. It is more stressful because you have more people who are constantly coming and going. Sometimes I would have 7 tables at a time that were all full, so you have to remember what everyone ordered. One tip, if you feel overwhelmed just write things down. You also have to work with barmen who make your drinks, just make sure to tip them well at the end of the shift so they make your drinks first the next day. We’ve had all kinds of different cocktails, types of scotch, beer, wines, vodkas, gins, etc. So for anybody who considers working in food and beverage during the summer, I would recommend learning different types of alcoholic beverages that your restaurant or hotel has. It is more rewarding because you work outside, people are more chill when they’re drunk, and also they tip better.
Pros
The pros were a good salary, I also liked talking with guests, met some really interesting people.
Cons
The cons, well if you went to go to the toilet for a minute, somebody would “steal your table”, or your customers, you really depend on the barmen, if you don’t serve your drinks on the time there goes your tip. Nevertheless, I think that this is a great summer job for younger people.
Pros
Suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
It is very easy to get into this career. Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Short working hours (Less than 40 hours per week).
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to solve problems mentally.
One of the lowest paying jobs.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Waiters and Waitresses with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $17,520 to $19,290 per year or $8 to $9 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $42,550 | $20 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $30,650 | $15 |
| Median | $23,740 | $11 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $19,290 | $9 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $17,520 | $8 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Waiters and Waitresses based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services | $36250 | $17.43 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $34450 | $16.56 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities | $33990 | $16.34 |
| Clothing Stores | $33920 | $16.31 |
| Special Food Services | $32260 | $15.51 |
| Traveler Accommodation | $31940 | $15.35 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $31740 | $15.26 |
| Grantmaking and Giving Services | $31510 | $15.15 |
| Employment Services | $31480 | $15.14 |
| Technical and Trade Schools | $31240 | $15.02 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Waiters and Waitresses work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Waiters and Waitresses including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and Other Eating Places | 1586420 | $27030 | $13.00 |
| Traveler Accommodation | 108350 | $31940 | $15.35 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | 53340 | $27200 | $13.08 |
| Special Food Services | 52490 | $32260 | $15.51 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) | 42960 | $26010 | $12.50 |
| Employment Services | 16210 | $31480 | $15.14 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly | 13480 | $26820 | $12.89 |
| Beverage Manufacturing | 10680 | $27940 | $13.43 |
| Gambling Industries | 9850 | $26960 | $12.96 |
| Civic and Social Organizations | 7640 | $29020 | $13.95 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.
They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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