How to hire a cocktail server

How to hire a cocktail server, step by step

Here's a step-by-step cocktail server hiring guide:

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

What does a cocktail server do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The cocktail server hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A cocktail server's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, cocktail servers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of cocktail server salaries for various roles:

   Type of Cocktail Server	Description	Hourly rate
   Cocktail Server	Waiters and waitresses take orders and serve food and beverages to customers in dining establishments.	$7-20
   Waitress	Waitresses are responsible for ensuring that guests are given proper attention during their visit to the restaurant. They guide guests to their table, provide menu boards, answer any questions the guests may have, take the guests' order, and communicate the order to the kitchen... Show more	$8-16
   Server And Hostess	A server and hostess is an employee who plays the dual role of both a hostess and a server. As implied by this, a server and hostess is in-charge of welcoming guests as they enter the restaurant, ensuring that the guests' tables are ready before leading them to their assigned tables, handing over the menu, and waiting for the guests to finalize their order... Show more	$10-17

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Wine
   • Cash Handling
   • Beverage Orders
   • Cleanliness
   • Guest Satisfaction
   • Customer Service
   • Guest Service
   • Drink Orders
   • Beverage Service
   • POS
   • Food Service
   • BARS
   • Excellent Guest
   • Upsell

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Ensure club cleanliness and provide amazing customer service to every individual.
   • Experience handling money and using a cash register, as well as the micros systems.
   • Take customers' orders and input into POS, run food, bus tables, help other servers as needed.
   • Provide a fun, safe and friendly atmosphere for customers, while providing excellent service serving cocktails, wine and beer.
   • Greet guests, take orders, correctly enter food and beverages into POS terminal, and ensure efficient delivery of both.
   • Fluctuate between all shifts and floors, assist in bartending, and becoming a top selling server within a few months.

   More cocktail server duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your cocktail server job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A cocktail server salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, cocktail servers' average salary in tennessee is 49% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level cocktail servers earn 62% less than senior-level cocktail servers.
   • Certifications. A cocktail server with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a cocktail server's salary.

   Average cocktail server salary

   $12.59hourly

   $26,178 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level cocktail server salary

   $16,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average cocktail server salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$35,439	$17
   2	District of Columbia	$34,719	$17
   3	California	$32,932	$16
   4	Massachusetts	$31,261	$15
   5	New York	$29,041	$14
   6	Arizona	$27,666	$13
   7	Colorado	$27,263	$13
   8	Oregon	$26,801	$13
   9	Minnesota	$26,256	$13
   10	Maine	$26,118	$13
   11	Texas	$24,882	$12
   12	Illinois	$24,716	$12
   13	Pennsylvania	$23,551	$11
   14	Missouri	$23,446	$11
   15	Virginia	$23,390	$11
   16	Florida	$23,376	$11
   17	Georgia	$23,216	$11
   18	North Carolina	$22,846	$11
   19	Ohio	$22,726	$11
   20	New Mexico	$22,354	$11

   Average cocktail server salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Aspen Snowmass	$46,495	$22.35	12
   2	Spectrum	$38,941	$18.72
   3	Jeff Ruby	$37,613	$18.08
   4	TravelCenters of America	$33,415	$16.06	73
   5	Nomad Health	$32,950	$15.84
   6	The Magazi Inc	$32,455	$15.60	2
   7	Cypress	$31,586	$15.19	5
   8	Erickson Senior Living	$31,568	$15.18	14
   9	Columbia Country Club	$30,356	$14.59	1
   10	Glenwood Oaks	$29,950	$14.40
   11	Cherokee Nation Businesses	$27,881	$13.40	10
   12	Bertucci's	$27,873	$13.40	8
   13	HEI Hotels & Resorts	$27,679	$13.31	72
   14	Rochambeau	$27,464	$13.20
   15	Mexican Restaurants	$27,317	$13.13
   16	The Point Casino & Hotel	$27,281	$13.12
   17	Black Angus Steakhouse	$27,252	$13.10	12
   18	Feather Falls Casino	$27,160	$13.06	2
   19	Benchmark Hospitally	$27,125	$13.04
   20	Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort	$26,766	$12.87

4. Writing a cocktail server job description

   A cocktail server job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a cocktail server job description:

   Cocktail server job description example

   About Us We are a full-service luxury hotel committed to turning every single person who walks through our doors into a customer for life. We regard our associates as customers, as well, and strive to offer the most desirable work environment in Boston. Our wages and benefits are competitive with other luxury hotels and fine restaurants. But our service culture and relationship with our associates are second to none. We are an employer taking care of its associates, who in turn take care of our guests.
   
   We are all about excellence and enabling our associates to achieve to their fullest potential, to learn and grow with us in an environment in which promotion from within is considered a more desirable option to external recruitment. We are pleased to offer perks such as pre-tax commuter passes, incentive programs, pet insurance, Marriott rooms discounts for friends and family and more!
   
   So who exactly are we looking for? Self-motivated, free-spirited, and capable people who love delighting our guests and patrons and each other - people who genuinely love serving other people and being an important part of a team that excels at it. If this sounds like you, come and see us.
   
   Don't meet every single requirement of this job? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At HEI we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still send in your information. You may be the perfect candidate for this or for other roles within our organization!
   We value U.S. military experience and invite all qualified military candidates to apply.
   Overview Serve guests in a hospitable manner to ensure positive guest experience. Responsibilities Hospitably greet, prepare and serve drinks to guests according to HEI Hotels and Resorts beverage service standards. Abide by all State, Federal and Corporate requirements pertaining to serving alcoholic beverages. Prepare station for readiness prior to opening and closing of each shift. Follow all cash handling and bank operating procedures as outlined by HEI Hotels and Resorts. Perform all side work duties according to side work schedules. Comply with attendance rules and be available to work on a regular basis. Perform any other job related duties as assigned. Qualifications Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, customers and patrons. Ability to use point of service computer. Full knowledge of state liquor laws. Ability to transport large trays weighing up to 30lbs. through a crowded room on a continuous basis throughout shift with or without reasonable accommodation. Effective verbal and written communication skills. Ability to adapt communication style to suit different audiences, such as effectively communicating with supervisors, coworkers, public etc. Benefits HEI Hotels and Resorts is committed to providing a comprehensive benefit program that offers you choices for your physical, mental and financial wellness, creating value in your most important investment - you!
   
   For your physical and mental wellness we offer competitive Medical and Dental programs through Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as Vision insurance programs through EyeMed. Our Vacation, Sick and Holiday programs are available for you to rejuvenate with time off. For your financial wellness, HEI provides a wide array of coverage, including Supplemental, Spousal and Child Life insurance as well as Short and Long-Term Disability plans. Our 401(k) Savings Plan with matching funds, and discounts through our 'YouDecide' and Hotel Room Discount programs provide additional incentives for choosing HEI as the employer of your future. Specific details and eligibility of these programs vary by location and employment status. Work today, get paid today! We proudly partner with DailyPay, a voluntary benefit that allows our associates access to their earnings when they want them.
   HEI Hotels and Resorts is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find cocktail servers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your cocktail server job on Zippia to find and recruit cocktail server candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit cocktail servers, 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 cocktail server

   Once you've decided on a perfect cocktail server candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new cocktail server. 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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