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How to hire a buffet attendant

Buffet attendant hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring buffet attendants in the United States:

  • There are a total of 3,768 buffet attendants in the US, and there are currently 44,657 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a buffet attendant is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per buffet attendant on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Miami Beach, FL, has the highest demand for buffet attendants, with 5 job openings.

How to hire a buffet attendant, step by step

To hire a buffet attendant, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a buffet attendant:

Here's a step-by-step buffet attendant hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a buffet attendant job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new buffet attendant
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the buffet attendant you need to hire. Certain buffet attendant roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect buffet attendant also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    This list presents buffet attendant salaries for various positions.

    Type of Buffet AttendantDescriptionHourly rate
    Buffet AttendantFood and beverage serving and related workers perform a variety of customer service, food preparation, and cleaning duties in restaurants, cafeterias, and other eating and drinking establishments.$9-15
    Dining Room ServerA dining room server performs various tasks to give patrons a positive dining experience. Their job usually entails greeting customers and presenting the menu, taking their orders, answering inquiries, recommending products and other services, serving drinks and food, and handling concerns professionally and courteously... Show more$11-17
    Food Service WorkerFoodservice workers are employees at restaurants, food trucks, or any outlet that provides food to customers. They may be assigned to welcome customers, take food orders, prepare food orders in the kitchen, serve food, handle customer payments, clean up the tables once the guests leave, or maintain the whole store's cleanliness... Show more$10-17
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Cleanliness
    • Food Handling
    • Buffet Line
    • Buffets
    • Culinary
    • Wine
    • BARS
    • Customer Service
    • Safety Standards
    • Food Safety
    • Pleasant Dining
    • In-Room
    • Hot Food
    • POS
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage VIP's with personal requirements and assist in their room set up and hospitality experience.
    • Maintain cleanliness of equipment, tables, utensils, and floors to ensure safety, and sanitation regulations are meet.
    • Maintain cleanliness and temperature log.
    • Keep records on individual pet, including daily observations and information activities perform, meals sever, and medication administer.
    • Lift raw materials, finish products, and pack items, manually or using hoists.
    More buffet attendant duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your buffet attendant job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A buffet attendant can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, buffet attendants' average salary in mississippi is 52% less than in washington.
    • Seniority. Entry-level buffet attendants 39% less than senior-level buffet attendants.
    • Certifications. A buffet attendant with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a buffet attendant's salary.

    Average buffet attendant salary

    $12.57hourly

    $26,138 yearly

    Entry-level buffet attendant salary
    $20,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 20, 2026

    Average buffet attendant salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1New York$32,892$16
    2California$32,316$16
    3Massachusetts$31,194$15
    4Oregon$30,176$15
    5Colorado$28,896$14
    6Arizona$27,870$13
    7Illinois$26,543$13
    8Maryland$26,227$13
    9Wisconsin$25,860$12
    10Michigan$25,531$12
    11Ohio$23,210$11
    12Georgia$22,864$11
    13Florida$22,724$11
    14Texas$21,927$11
    15Virginia$21,504$10
    16Pennsylvania$21,450$10
    17Tennessee$20,997$10
    18Missouri$20,590$10
    19North Carolina$20,071$10
    20Alabama$20,070$10

    Average buffet attendant salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Hyatt Hotels$30,139$14.49173
    2Shakey's Pizza$29,854$14.356
    3Jake's Finer Foods$29,051$13.97
    4Great Wolf Resorts$28,831$13.8644
    5PeopleReady$28,827$13.8616
    6Aramark$27,905$13.4262
    7Marriott International$27,757$13.34348
    8Hersha Hospitality$27,688$13.31255
    9Drury Hotels$27,311$13.13219
    10Delaware North$26,919$12.9485
    11Austin Country Club$26,432$12.715
    12Hilton$26,195$12.59321
    13Benchmark Hospitally$26,156$12.572
    14Sodexo Management, Inc.$26,111$12.55203
    15Benchmark Group$26,053$12.53
    16Aimbridge Hospitality$25,935$12.471
    17Hershey Jobs$25,731$12.371
    18Pyramid Hotel Group$25,723$12.37
    19BigEasy.com$24,053$11.5624
    20Golden Corral$23,719$11.4013
  4. Writing a buffet attendant job description

    A good buffet attendant job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a buffet attendant job description:

    Buffet attendant job description example


    At Delaware North, we care about our associates' professional and personal wellbeing. We have a comprehensive benefits program designed to give our associates the comfort, safety, and stability they need to deliver exceptional service to our guests. All associates are eligible for benefits including weekly pay, employee assistance program, training and development, employee discounts, and flexible work schedules. Medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) with company match, paid vacation and holidays, and tuition reimbursement are available for eligible associates.

    Responsibilities
    • Handle all cuisine according to health and sanitation standards and work as a team to ensure support staff follows suit.
    • Refill cooked hot and cold food items in the buffet, keeping all hot and cold lines clean and appropriate serving utensils stocked.
    • Provide support to the culinary team by notifying them in a timely manner when certain food items are needed.
    • Ensure the highest possible standards of guest service are provided and listens and responds to guest and associate concerns and questions.
    • Wipe and clean all serving service stations; sweep and mop kitchen expo area as needed and remove and empty trash as needed.
    • Perform other duties as assigned.
    Qualifications
    • Ability to understand and follow directions.
    • Ability to work cooperatively with others.
    Physical Requirements
    • Ability to stand and walk for the entire length of shift.
    • Ability to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl frequently.
    • Ability to regularly lift and move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and move up to 50 pounds.
    Who We Are

    At Delaware North, you'll love where you work, who you work with, and how your day unfolds. Whether it's in sporting venues, casinos, airports, national parks, iconic hotels, or premier restaurants, there's no telling where your career can ultimately take you. We empower you to do great work in a company with 100 years of success, stability and growth. If you have drive and enjoy the thrill of making things happen - share our vision and grow with us.

    Delaware North Companies, Incorporated and its subsidiaries consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status. Delaware North is an equal opportunity employer.

  5. Post your job

    To find buffet attendants for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any buffet attendants they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level buffet attendants with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your buffet attendant job on Zippia to find and recruit buffet attendant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit buffet attendants, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new buffet attendant

    Once you've selected the best buffet attendant candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new buffet attendant. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a buffet attendant?

Hiring a buffet attendant comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting buffet attendants involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of buffet attendant recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $26,138 per year for a buffet attendant, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for buffet attendants in the US typically range between $9 and $15 an hour.

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