Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Working effectively with people by building relationships, understanding others, and responding appropriately.
Communicating clearly through speech while listening carefully to understand others.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become a Waiter or Waitress Waiters and waitresses typically learn on the job. Waiters and waitresses typically do not need formal
Education
or related work experience to enter the occupation. They typically learn through on-the-job
Training
that lasts 1 month or less. Most states require workers who serve alcoholic beverages to be at least 18 years old, but some states require servers to be older. Waiters and waitresses who serve alcohol must be familiar with state and local laws concerning the sale of alcoholic beverages. Education Typically, no formal education is required to become a waiter or waitress. However, some employers require or prefer that workers have a high school diploma. Training Waiters and waitresses typically learn through short-term on-the-job-training, usually lasting from several days to a few weeks. Trainees typically work with an experienced waiter or waitress, who teaches them basic serving techniques. On-the-job training helps new workers learn serving techniques and use of the restaurant’s order-placement, payment, and other systems. Training also prepares waiters and waitresses to properly handle difficult situations and unpleasant or unruly customers. Training for waiters and waitresses in establishments that serve alcohol typically involves learning state and local laws concerning the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some states, counties, and cities mandate the training, which typically lasts a few hours and may be offered online or in-house. Some states require that servers take training related to the safe handling of food. Advancement Waiters and waitresses who have experience may advance to work in fine-dining restaurants. Advancement may offer improved conditions, such as preferred schedules or higher tips.
Your Next Step
Review training, certifications, apprenticeships, or employer-based preparation that may support entry into this career.
Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Employment of waiters and waitresses is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035. Despite limited employment growth, about 423,100 openings for waiters and waitresses are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most 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. Employment Many establishments will continue to use waiters and waitresses to serve food and beverages and to provide customer service. However, reduced need for these workers is expected due to increases in the use of self-service technology, such as kiosks that allow customers to order and pay for food, and in carryout. Waiters and Waitresses Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Food and beverage serving workers 4% Total, all occupations 3% Waiters and waitresses 2% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Waiters and Waitresses Do
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.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Waiters and waitresses held about 2.3 million jobs in 2025. The largest employers of waiters and waitresses were as follows:
| Food services and drinking places | 85% |
| Traveler accommodation | 6 |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 4 |
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.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Communication skills. Waiters and waitresses must listen to customers, ask questions as needed, and relay information to the kitchen staff so that orders are prepared to the customers’ satisfaction. Customer-service skills. Waiters and waitresses are frontline workers for their restaurant. They should be friendly and polite and be able to develop a rapport with customers. Detail oriented. Waiters and waitresses must record customers’ orders accurately. They should be able to recall the details of each order and match the food or drink orders to the correct customers. Physical stamina. Waiters and waitresses spend most of their work hours standing or walking and carrying trays, dishes, and drinks. Physical strength. Waiters and waitresses need to be able to lift and carry trays of food or other items.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about waiters and waitresses by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.