How to hire a food server

How to hire a food server, step by step

Here's a step-by-step food 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 food server job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new food server
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a food server do?

Post a food server job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your food server job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a food server for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A food server's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, food 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.

   This list shows salaries for various types of food servers.

   Type of Food Server	Description	Hourly rate
   Food Server	Food 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.	$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
   Server/Barista	A server/barista is someone who makes and serves beverages and foods, such as coffee, tea, and sandwiches or baked goods. He/She or she should be able to explain menu items to customers to ensure customer satisfaction... Show more	$11-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Beverage Orders
   • Wine
   • Cleanliness
   • Customer Service
   • Guest Service
   • Cash Handling
   • POS
   • Fine Dining
   • Beverage Service
   • Guest Satisfaction
   • Bus Tables
   • Kitchen Utensils
   • Exceptional Guest
   • Food Orders

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage expediter window paying close attention to garnishes and presentation.
   • Provide outstanding customer service by communicating clearly and effectively while maintaining the cleanliness and organization of the restaurant.
   • Serve tables in a busy caf /bar environment.
   • Handle all transactions, both in person and by headset in drive-thru.
   • Work the Drive-Thru counter assisting numerous customers at a fast and friendly pace.
   • Prepare and serve delicious espresso, coffee drinks, and smoothies according to memorize recipes.

   More food server duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, food servers' average salary in alaska is 37% less than in vermont.
   • Seniority. Entry-level food servers earn 47% less than senior-level food servers.
   • Certifications. A food 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 food server's salary.

   Average food server salary

   $12.12hourly

   $25,209 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level food server salary

   $18,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 5, 2026

   Average food server salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$30,005	$14
   2	Washington	$28,852	$14
   3	New York	$28,413	$14
   4	Pennsylvania	$26,549	$13
   5	Virginia	$25,764	$12
   6	Illinois	$24,926	$12
   7	New Jersey	$23,965	$12
   8	Utah	$23,738	$11
   9	Colorado	$23,498	$11
   10	Iowa	$23,281	$11
   11	Arizona	$22,771	$11
   12	North Carolina	$22,716	$11
   13	Nevada	$22,516	$11
   14	Ohio	$22,446	$11
   15	Maryland	$21,789	$10
   16	Florida	$21,694	$10
   17	District of Columbia	$21,532	$10
   18	Louisiana	$21,388	$10
   19	Missouri	$20,289	$10
   20	Texas	$20,259	$10

   Average food server salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Gettysburg College	$32,939	$15.84	1
   2	Price Chopper Supermarkets-Market 32	$30,918	$14.86
   3	Ashley HomeStore	$30,644	$14.73	1
   4	Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath)	$30,369	$14.60
   5	Hilton CSD	$30,139	$14.49
   6	HEI Hotels & Resorts	$29,972	$14.41	42
   7	P&S Surgical Hospital	$29,523	$14.19	6
   8	San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance	$29,280	$14.08
   9	Bertucci's	$29,198	$14.04	10
   10	Mount Kisco Country Club	$28,897	$13.89
   11	St Luke's Hospital & Health Network Inc	$28,753	$13.82
   12	Beach Point Club	$28,525	$13.71
   13	University of Rochester	$28,513	$13.71	9
   14	Era Living	$28,258	$13.59
   15	TPI	$28,141	$13.53	1
   16	The Magazi Inc	$28,125	$13.52	5
   17	Lehigh Valley Health Network	$28,078	$13.50
   18	Compass Group USA	$28,012	$13.47	3,586
   19	Child Start	$27,808	$13.37	2
   20	Folks Restaurants Ltd	$27,789	$13.36	1

4. Writing a food server job description

   A food 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 food server job description:

   Food server job description example

   Sunrise considers the health and safety of its residents, family members, and team members as its highest priorities. All offers of employment with Sunrise are conditioned on completing and passing a background and drug test, participating in mandatory vaccine programs (e.g., Covid-19), participating in testing requirements (e.g. Covid-19, TB) and using designated PPE when required.

   Sunrise Senior Living offers a comprehensive benefits plan to eligible team members including health, dental, vision, retirement benefits, short-term disability, long-term disability, and paid time off. Team members may also be eligible to receive a bonus based on their position. Some leadership roles are eligible to receive annual bonuses. All team members have the potential to receive spot bonuses and other incentive awards.

   
   Qualifications
   

   Sunrise Senior Living has championed quality of life in senior care for more than 30 years. We believe team members are our greatest resource and are looking for people who share our commitment to provide quality care for seniors and their families. It's no surprise that many of the world's leading experts in Senior Living entrust their career to Sunrise.

   At Sunrise, you will…
   
   Make a Difference Every Day
   We are passionate about our mission — to champion quality of life for all seniors. We deliver high-quality care with a personal touch and encourage our residents to enjoy life to the fullest.

   Be Part of a Uniquely Supportive Community
   The care-focused environment we create for residents extends to our team members. We offer programs, rewards, and benefits to help you live your best.

   Ignite Your Potential
   We believe potential has no limits. We offer best-in-class leadership development programs designed to grow our leaders. We are committed to helping our team members achieve their career goals.

   Sunrise Senior Living was again named as one of the Best Workplaces in Aging Services™ by Fortune and certified as a Great Place to Work® by Activated Insights. This is the 5th time Sunrise has received this top culture and workplace designation, highlighting the special place Sunrise is to be a part of.

   Apply today to learn why Sunrise Senior Living is a certified Great Place to Work ®

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right food server for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with food servers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit food servers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit food servers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to 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 food server

   Once you've selected the best food server 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 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.

   To prepare for the new food server first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a food server?