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

Waiters and Waitresses Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            									
							
				                                                
                                            




            			waiters and waitresses imageWaiters and waitresses serve food and beverages to customers.							
						Quick Facts:     Waiters and Waitresses2023     Median Pay
            						$31,940     per year
										$15.36     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
                                    2,194,100Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    -3% (Decline)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    -68,600What Waiters and Waitresses Do
                                                
                        
                        
Waiters and waitresses take orders and serve food and beverages to customers in dining establishments.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Waiters and waitresses work in restaurants, bars, hotels, and other food-serving and drinking establishments. Part-time work is common, and schedules may vary to include early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays.
            
                                                How to Become a Waiter or Waitress
                                                
                        
Waiters and waitresses typically do not need formal education to enter the occupation. They are typically trained on the job.
            
                        Pay
                        																																					    														The median hourly wage for waiters and waitresses was $15.36 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of waiters and waitresses is projected to decline							 3 percent from 2022 to 2032.
						Despite declining  employment, about 440,000 openings for waiters and waitresses are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for waiters and waitresses.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of waiters and waitresses with similar occupations.
            
            
                        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.
 What Waiters and Waitresses Do 
            

			Waiters and waitressesSome states require workers who serve alcohol to be at least 18 years old.			
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 areasWaiters 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
			Waiters and waitressesWaiters and waitresses mostly work in full-service restaurants.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Waiters and waitresses held about 2.2 million jobs in 2022. The largest employers of waiters and waitresses were as follows:
        Restaurants and other eating places
                82%Traveler accommodation
                5Arts, entertainment, and recreation
                4Waiters 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.
 How to Become a Waiter or Waitress

			Waiters and waitressesWaiters 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.
Important Qualities
***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.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Waiters and WaitressesMedian hourly wages, May 2023Total, all occupations$23.11   Waiters and waitresses$15.36   Food and beverage serving workers$14.50Note: 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 waiters and waitresses was $15.36 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 $8.94, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $28.89.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median hourly wages for waiters and waitresses in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Arts, entertainment, and recreation
                $15.50Traveler accommodation
                15.50Restaurants and other eating places
                15.16These wage data include tips. Tipped employees earn at least the federal minimum wage, which may be paid as a combination of direct wages and tips, depending on the state. The Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor maintains a website listing minimum wages for tipped employees, by state, although some localities have enacted minimum wages higher than their state requires.
Part-time work is common for waiters and waitresses. 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.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Waiters and WaitressesPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Total, all occupations3%  Food and beverage serving workers0%  Waiters and waitresses-3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of waiters and waitresses is projected to decline				 3 percent from 2022 to 2032.
			
			Despite declining  employment, about 440,000 openings for waiters and waitresses are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other 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.
			

                        Employment projections data for     waiters and waitresses, 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**Waiters and waitresses**
			35-3031
			2,194,100
			2,125,500
			-3
			-68,600
			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. Waiters and waitresses **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 waiters and waitresses. 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**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 and Beverage Serving and Related Workers**
            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.
            No formal educational credential
            $29,710**Retail Sales Workers**
            Retail sales workers help customers find products they want and process customers’ payments.
            No formal educational credential
            $33,900**Food Service Managers**
            Food service managers are responsible for the daily operation of restaurants or other establishments that prepare and serve food and beverages.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $63,060
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information on careers as a waiter or waitress, visit
Choose Restaurants
Occupational Requirements Survey
For a profile highlighting selected BLS data on occupational requirements, see
Waiters and waitresses (PDF)

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Waiters and Waitresses
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Waiters and Waitresses, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/food-preparation-and-serving/waiters-and-waitresses.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


**U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics**
Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections 
PSB Suite 2135 
2 Massachusetts Avenue NE  
Washington, DC 20212-0001 Telephone:1-202-691-5700 

www.bls.gov/ooh
Contact OOH