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What is a host/waiter and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
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There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a host/waiter. For example, did you know that they make an average of $12.3 an hour? That's $25,593 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 10% and produce 197,000 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreHost/WaiterUS Average
Salary
2.0

Avg. Salary $25,593

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.2

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.85%

Asian 10.13%

Black or African American 10.41%

Hispanic or Latino 22.16%

Unknown 5.81%

White 50.65%

Gender

female 10.00%

male 90.00%

Age - 25
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 25
Stress level
6.2

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.1

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
10.0

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Host/waiter career paths

Key steps to become a host/waiter

  1. Explore host/waiter education requirements

    Most common host/waiter degrees

    Bachelor's

    42.8 %

    High School Diploma

    30.9 %

    Associate

    18.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific host/waiter skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service26.71%
    Food Handling20.65%
    Waiter10.04%
    Food Orders6.04%
    Food Preparation4.59%
  3. Complete relevant host/waiter training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New host/waiters learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a host/waiter based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real host/waiter resumes.
  4. Research host/waiter duties and responsibilities

    • Manage restaurant sections in order to equalize seating arrangements for each waiter and ensure the restaurant are stocked and well maintain.
    • Train employees on job duties and POS system.
    • Edit POS system to adjust for changes in prices and new inventory to assist ease of usage for employees.
    • Establish a positive relationship with co-workers and managers through a solid work ethic, positive attitude, punctuality and dependability.
  5. Prepare your host/waiter resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your host/waiter resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a host/waiter resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable host/waiter resume templates

    Build a professional host/waiter resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your host/waiter resume.
    Host/Waiter Resume
    Host/Waiter Resume
    Host/Waiter Resume
    Host/Waiter Resume
    Host/Waiter Resume
    Host/Waiter Resume
    Host/Waiter Resume
    Host/Waiter Resume
    Host/Waiter Resume
  6. Apply for host/waiter jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a host/waiter job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first host/waiter job

Zippi

Are you a host/waiter?

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Average host/waiter salary

The average host/waiter salary in the United States is $25,593 per year or $12 per hour. Host/waiter salaries range between $18,000 and $34,000 per year.

Average host/waiter salary
$25,593 Yearly
$12.30 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do host/waiters rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Host/waiter reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2021
Pros

What I like about working as a hostess is that you get to greet and meet new people on a daily basis.

Cons

What I don’t like at times about being a hostess is sometimes running into those mean and rude customers at times.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019
Cons

nothing


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A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019
Pros

Most waiter and waitress jobs are entry level, and workers learn through short-term on-the-job training. No formal education or previous work experience is required to enter the occupation. Most states require workers who serve alcoholic beverages to be at least 18 years of age, 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.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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