Best Jobs For Former Waitresss [2026]

Transitioning from a waitressing role can be challenging, especially as the dynamics of the labor market shift. Many former waitresses are exploring new career paths, and understanding these options is crucial for those looking to make a change in 2026.

While enrolment in hospitality-related courses remains steady, fewer individuals are choosing waitressing as a long-term career, leading to a significant reassessment of opportunities available to those in the field.

This trend raises an important question:

What are former waitresses pursuing now?

We examined the resumes of countless former waitresses to identify the jobs they transitioned into after leaving the industry. From this data, we compiled a list of the top 100 roles they moved into, highlighting some of the most intriguing options.

Top Jobs for Former WAITRESSES

While some of these roles may be more appealing than others, they represent a diverse range of opportunities for former waitresses.

Below is the comprehensive list of jobs that former waitresses are now pursuing.

Detailed Ranking of the Most Common Jobs of Former WAITRESSES

Rank	Job Title	%
1	Cashier	4.43%
2	Sales Associate	4.41%
3	Customer Service Representative	3.38%
4	Internship	1.92%
5	Server	1.71%
6	Administrative Assistant	1.5%
7	Assistant Manager	1.32%
8	Receptionist	1.23%
9	Manager	1.18%
10	Sales Representative	1.04%
11	Certified Nursing Assistant	0.94%
12	Volunteer	0.77%
13	Bartender	0.73%
14	Office Assistant	0.72%
15	Teacher	0.71%
16	Substitute Teacher	0.62%
17	Customer Service Trainer	0.6%
18	Office Manager	0.6%
19	Registered Nurse	0.57%
20	Teller	0.55%
21	Hostess	0.53%
22	Crew Member	0.52%
23	Pharmacist Technician	0.49%
24	Nanny	0.48%
25	Waitress/Bartender	0.45%
26	Medical Assistant	0.45%
27	Front Desk Receptionist	0.44%
28	Teacher Assistant	0.4%
29	Server And Hostess	0.38%
30	Associate	0.38%
31	Barista	0.37%
32	Marketing Internship	0.36%
33	Supervisor	0.36%
34	Home Health Aid	0.36%
35	Waitress/Hostess	0.34%
36	Store Manager	0.34%
37	Customer Service Associate	0.34%
38	Assistant	0.34%
39	Research Assistant	0.33%
40	Housekeeper	0.3%
41	Cook	0.3%
42	Preschool Teacher	0.27%
43	Secretary	0.26%
44	Security Officer	0.26%
45	Bank Teller	0.25%
46	Bartender Server	0.25%
47	Warehouse Associate	0.23%
48	Machine Operator	0.23%
49	Clerk	0.23%
50	Dental Assistant	0.22%
51	Owner	0.22%
52	Specialist	0.22%
53	Sales Associate And Cashier	0.21%
54	Direct Support Professional	0.21%
55	Personal Assistant	0.21%
56	Team Leader	0.21%
57	Sales Associate And Customer Service	0.21%
58	Banquet Server	0.2%
59	Coordinator	0.19%
60	General Manager	0.19%
61	Data Entry Associate	0.19%
62	Teaching Assistant	0.19%
63	Licensed Practical Nurse	0.19%
64	Technician	0.18%
65	Shift Leader	0.18%
66	Graphic Designer	0.18%
67	Shift Manager	0.18%
68	Student Assistant	0.17%
69	Account Manager	0.17%
70	Tutor	0.17%
71	Warehouse Worker	0.17%
72	Call Center Representative	0.17%
73	Sales Consultant	0.16%
74	Shift Supervisor	0.16%
75	Operations Manager	0.15%
76	Assistant Store Manager	0.15%
77	Production Worker	0.15%
78	Resident Assistant	0.15%
79	Security Guard	0.15%
80	Customer Service Specialist	0.14%
81	Photographer	0.14%
82	Sales Person	0.14%
83	Ship Worker	0.14%
84	Radiologic Technician	0.14%
85	Dietary Aide	0.13%
86	Personal Trainer	0.13%
87	Legal Assistant	0.13%
88	Lead Teacher	0.13%
89	Representative	0.13%
90	Consultant	0.13%
91	Material Handler	0.13%
92	Delivery Driver	0.13%
93	Sales Manager	0.13%
94	Student Worker	0.13%
95	Billing Specialist	0.13%
96	Service Representative	0.12%
97	Cleaner	0.12%
98	Teacher Aide	0.12%
99	Customer Service Agent	0.12%
100	Account Executive	0.12%

Most Common Jobs for Former WAITRESSES

These positions are valuable, utilizing skills honed in waitressing and serving as potential stepping stones to new careers.

How We Identified the Best Jobs for Former WAITRESSES

Our analysis drew on resume data from a comprehensive database of over 7 million resumes, focusing on those that listed waitressing in their work history. We tracked the subsequent roles they occupied, ranking them according to frequency.

To curate our list of standout jobs, we filtered the ranked data for positions that:

Appeared in less than 1% of all new job listings
Were not included in the top 100 common roles identified

By highlighting these unique roles, we provide insight into the diverse opportunities available for those transitioning from waitressing.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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