### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			food and beverage serving and related workers imageFood and beverage serving workers serve coffee, soda, and other beverages.							
						Quick Facts:     Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers2023     Median Pay
            						$29,710     per year
										$14.29     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    No formal educational credentialWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    Short-term on-the-job trainingNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    4,540,700Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    2% (As fast as average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    79,700What Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers Do
                                                
                        
                        
Food and beverage serving and related workers take and prepare orders, clear tables, and do other tasks associated with providing food and drink to customers.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Food and beverage serving and related workers are employed in restaurants, schools, and other dining places. Work shifts often include early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays. Part-time work is common.
            
                                                How to Become a Food and Beverage Serving or Related Worker
                                                
                        
Food and beverage serving and related workers typically have no requirements for formal education or work experience to enter the occupation. They learn their skills on the job.
            
                        Pay
                        																																					    														The median hourly wage for food and beverage serving and related workers was $14.29 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Overall employment							of food and beverage serving and related workers is projected to grow							 2 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
						About 1,026,200 openings for food and beverage serving and related workers 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.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for food and beverage serving and related workers.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of food and beverage serving and related workers with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about food and beverage serving and related workers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers Do 
            

			Food and beverage serving and related workersFood and beverage workers may work directly with customers.			
Food and beverage serving and related workers take and prepare orders, clear tables, and do other tasks associated with providing food and drink to customers.
Duties
Food and beverage serving and related workers typically do the following:
Greet customers and answer their questions about menu items and specials
Take food and drink orders from customers
Prepare food and drink orders, such as sandwiches and coffee
Relay customers’ orders to other kitchen staff
Serve food and drinks to customers at a counter, at a stand, or in a hotel room
Accept payment and provide customers with receipts
Clean assigned work areas, such as dining tables or serving counters
Stock service stations, cabinets, and tables
Set tables or prepare food stations for new customersFood and beverage serving and related workers are the front line of customer service in restaurants, cafeterias, and other food service establishments. They seat customers, take or prepare food and drink orders, clear and set tables, and serve food and beverages. Depending on the establishment, they may do some or all of these tasks during their shift.
Most work as part of a team, although their responsibilities and job titles vary.
The following are examples of types of food and beverage serving and related workers:
***Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers—***sometimes collectively referred to as bus staff—help waiters, waitresses, and bartenders by cleaning and setting tables, removing dirty dishes, and stocking serving areas with supplies. They also may help waiters and waitresses by bringing meals from the kitchen, distributing dishes to diners, filling water glasses, and delivering condiments.
***Fast food and counter workers*** are employed primarily by limited-service restaurants, cafeterias, and snack bars at which customers generally order and pay before eating. These workers take food and beverage orders, prepare or retrieve items, and accept payment. They also heat food items and make salads and sandwiches.
***Hosts and hostesses*** greet customers, seat guests, and manage reservations and waiting lists. They also may provide menus, take and prepare to-go orders, and assist with maintaining cleanliness of the dining area.
***Nonrestaurant food servers*** provide food to customers outside a restaurant environment. For example, they may deliver room-service orders in hotels or meals to hospital rooms. Some work as carhops at venues such as drive-in movie theaters, bringing orders to customers in parked cars.
 Work Environment
			Food and beverage serving and related workersFood servers bring meals to customers outside a restaurant.			

	    
				
	
	    	    		Food and beverage serving and related workers held about 4.5 million jobs in 2022. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up food and beverage serving and related workers was distributed as follows:
    	    	
    	Fast food and counter workers
                3,410,100Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
                459,200Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
                412,800Food servers, nonrestaurant
                258,600The largest employers of food and beverage serving and related workers were as follows:
        Restaurants and other eating places
                77%Retail trade
                4Healthcare and social assistance
                4Special food services
                4Educational services; state, local, and private
                3Food and beverage serving and related workers spend most of their shift on their feet. They carry trays of food, dishes, or glassware, which are often heavy. During busy dining periods, they are under pressure to serve customers quickly and efficiently.
Injuries and Illnesses
Food preparation and serving areas in restaurants often have potential safety hazards, such as hot ovens and slippery floors. Common injuries include slips, cuts, and burns. To reduce these risks, workers may wear gloves, aprons, or nonslip shoes.
Work Schedules
Part-time work is common for food and beverage serving and related workers. Because restaurants and other eating places typically have extended dining hours, work shifts often include early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Work may be seasonal. Food and beverage serving and related workers may not work or may have limited hours during certain times of the year. For example, those in school cafeterias may work only during the school year, usually 9 to 10 months.
In addition, business hours in restaurants allow for flexible schedules that appeal to teenagers. Food and beverage serving and related workers employs more 16- to 19-year-olds than any other occupation.
 How to Become a Food and Beverage Serving or Related Worker

			Food and beverage serving and related workersFood and beverage and related workers need customer service skills.			
Food and beverage serving and related workers typically have no requirements for education to enter the occupation. They receive short-term on-the-job training.
Most states require workers who serve alcoholic beverages, even as an accompaniment to meals, to be at least 18 years old.
Education
There typically are no formal education requirements for becoming a food and beverage serving worker.
Training
Workers typically learn through on-the-job training, which may last from few days to several weeks. Training includes basic customer service, kitchen safety, safe food-handling procedures, and sanitation guidelines.
Food and beverage serving and related workers typically learn their duties by watching and working with experienced staff. Some employers, particularly those in fast-food restaurants, have specific training programs for new workers.
Bartender helpers and other workers in establishments where alcohol is served may need training on state and local laws concerning the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some states, counties, and cities mandate such training, which typically lasts a few hours.
Advancement
Some food and beverage serving and related workers advance to waiter, waitress, or bartender positions as they learn the basics of serving food or preparing drinks. Kitchen staff may advance to become food preparation workers or cooks. Still others may move up to supervisory or food service manager positions.
Important Qualities
***Communication skills.*** Food and beverage serving and related workers must listen to customers’ orders and relay them correctly to the kitchen staff so that the orders are prepared as requested.
***Customer-service skills.*** Food service establishments rely on good food and customer service to keep customers and succeed in a competitive industry. As a result, workers should be courteous and be able to attend to customers’ requests.
***Physical stamina.*** Food and beverage serving and related workers spend most of their shift doing physical tasks such as standing, carrying trays, and cleaning work areas.
***Physical strength.*** Food and beverage serving and related workers need to be able to lift and carry stock and equipment that can weigh up to 50 pounds.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Food and Beverage Serving and Related WorkersMedian hourly wages, May 2023Total, all occupations$23.11   Food preparation and serving related occupations$15.50   Food and beverage serving and related workers$14.29Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median hourly wage for food and beverage serving and related workers was $14.29 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $10.64, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $18.10.

			
                    	Median hourly wages for food and beverage serving and related workers in May 2023 were as follows:
        Food servers, nonrestaurant
		$15.92Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
		14.99Fast food and counter workers
		14.20Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
		14.05In May 2023, the median hourly wages for food and beverage serving and related workers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Healthcare and social assistance
                $16.17Educational services; state, local, and private
                16.04Retail trade
                15.83Special food services
                15.00Restaurants and other eating places
                14.08Although some workers in these occupations earn tips, most get their earnings from hourly wages alone.
In some restaurants, workers may contribute all or a portion of their tips to a tip pool, which is distributed among qualifying workers. Tip pools allow workers who do not usually receive tips directly from customers, such as dining room attendants, to be part of a team and to share in the rewards for good service.
Employers may provide meals and uniforms but may deduct those costs from the worker’s wages.
Part-time work is common for food and beverage serving and related workers. Because restaurants and other eating places typically have extended dining hours, work shifts often include early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Work may be seasonal. Food and beverage serving and related workers may not work or may have limited hours during certain times of the year. For example, those in school cafeterias may work only during the school year, usually 9 to 10 months.
In addition, business hours in restaurants allow for flexible schedules that appeal to teenagers. Food and beverage serving and related workers employs more 16- to 19-year-olds than any other occupation.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
               Food and Beverage Serving and Related WorkersPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Total, all occupations3%  Food preparation and serving related occupations2%  Food and beverage serving and related workers2%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Overall employment				of food and beverage serving and related workers is projected to grow				 2 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
			
			About 1,026,200 openings for food and beverage serving and related workers 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.
			Employment
	
			
Projected employment of food and beverage serving and related workers varies by occupation (see table).
As a growing population continues to dine out, purchase take-out meals, or have food delivered, more restaurants, particularly fast-food and casual dining restaurants, are expected to open. In response, more food and beverage serving and related workers are expected to be needed.
In addition, nontraditional food service operations, such as those inside grocery stores and cafeterias in hospitals and residential care facilities, are expected to serve more prepared meals. Because these workers are essential to the operation of a food-serving establishment, they should continue to be in demand.
			

                        Employment projections data for     food and beverage serving and related workers, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Food and beverage serving and related workers**
			—
			4,540,700
			4,620,500
			2
			79,700
			—**Fast food and counter workers**
			35-3023
			3,410,100
			3,460,500
			1
			50,400
			Get data**Food servers, nonrestaurant**
			35-3041
			258,600
			266,600
			3
			8,100
			Get data**Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers**
			35-9011
			459,200
			478,400
			4
			19,200
			Get data**Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop**
			35-9031
			412,800
			414,900
			0
			2,000
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
					Fast food and counter workers
					Food servers, nonrestaurant
					Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of food and beverage serving and related workers. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Bartenders**
            Bartenders mix drinks and serve them directly to customers or through wait staff.
            No formal educational credential
            $31,510**Cashiers**
            Cashiers process payments from customers purchasing goods and services.
            No formal educational credential
            $29,720**Cooks**
            Cooks season and prepare foods, including soups, salads, entrees, and desserts.
            See How to Become One
            $34,320**Flight Attendants**
            Flight attendants provide routine services and respond to emergencies to ensure the safety and comfort of airline passengers.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $68,370**Food Preparation Workers**
            Food preparation workers perform a variety of tasks other than cooking, such as slicing meat and brewing coffee.
            No formal educational credential
            $32,420**Retail Sales Workers**
            Retail sales workers help customers find products they want and process customers’ payments.
            No formal educational credential
            $33,900**Waiters and Waitresses**
            Waiters and waitresses take orders and serve food and beverages to customers in dining establishments.
            No formal educational credential
            $31,940
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information on food and beverage serving careers, visit
National Restaurant Association

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        BaristasDining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersFast Food and Counter WorkersFood Servers, NonrestaurantHosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/food-preparation-and-serving/food-and-beverage-serving-and-related-workers.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


**U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics**
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