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Lead server education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Usually, lead servers don't need a college education. The most common degree for lead servers is bachelor's degree with 49% graduates, with only 23% lead server graduates earning associate degree. Lead servers who decided to graduate from college often finish University of Phoenix or University of Central Florida. Some good skills to have in this position include customer service, new servers and fine dining.

Popular lead server certifications include Food Safety Manager Certification, Certified Food Manager (CFM), or Certified Professional - Food Safety (CP-FS). To improve lead server qualification and skills, we prepared some online courses to help in lead server education paths.

What education do you need to become a lead server?

What degree do you need to be a lead server?

The most common degree for lead servers is bachelor's degree, with 49% of lead servers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 23% and associate degree degree at 19%.
  • Bachelor's, 49%
  • Associate, 23%
  • High School Diploma, 19%
  • Diploma, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become a lead server?

You should major in business to become a lead server. 23% of lead servers major in business. Other common majors for a lead server include psychology and communication.

Best majors for lead servers

RankMajorPercentages
1Business23.0%
2Psychology10.2%
3Communication7.3%
4General Studies5.8%
5Criminal Justice4.6%

20 best online courses for lead servers

Advertising disclosure

1. Operations and Patient Safety for Healthcare IT Staff

coursera

Now that you've been introduced to the world of Health IT and the important role played by electronic health records (EHRs), we'll focus on other technologies that play a role in maintaining ongoing operations in healthcare. Telemedicine, patient portals, barcode scanners, printers, and medical devices are just some of the technologies that impact providers and patients. As an IT support specialist, you’ll be asked to troubleshoot issues with a wide variety of tools. You'll see a scenario with...

2. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System

udemy
4.4
(976)

Understand the requirements for a food safety management system applicable for any organization in the food chain...

3. Food Safety for Managers and Supervisors

udemy
4.3
(489)

The Highfield Food Safety Level 3 syllabus presented in two hours of video tutorials. Boost your food safety knowledge...

4. Fun food safety and sanitation course

udemy
4.6
(539)

The food safety course will help prepare you for safely working in a kitchen and food handler tests like Servesafe...

5. OSHA Workplace Safety (General Industry 6 Hr Class)

udemy
4.5
(2,583)

Learn the requirements and standards associated with OSHA and workplace safety. Safety best practices for the workplace...

6. OSHA Safety Training: Conducting Safety Meetings

udemy
4.5
(958)

A Brief Safety Management Course for Current and Aspiring Safety Professionals...

7. Basic Fire Safety Awareness

udemy
4.3
(776)

Basic Fire Safety Awareness - Your Gateway towards Career in Fire Safety...

8. SAP Customer Service (CS/SM) - Service Management module

udemy
4.4
(960)

Real World SAP CS and SD, Repair Orders, Service Orders, Service Contracts...

9. Customer Service: 6 Keys To Exceptional Customer Service

udemy
4.6
(601)

Master Customer Satisfaction & Astonish Your Customers With A+ Customer Service...

10. Supervisor Leadership Skills for a Safe Workplace

udemy
4.5
(2,008)

Learn safety communication skills to foster safety accountability, responsibility and correct safety behaviours...

11. Complete Health and Safety Auditor Course. OHSAS 18001.

udemy
4.5
(2,235)

How to implement and audit a health & safety management system and obtain certification to OHSAS 18001 Standard...

12. Financial Accounting - Subsidiary Ledgers & Special Journals

udemy
4.5
(580)

Mastering Special Journals and Subsidiary Ledgers: A Comprehensive Guide to Streamlined Accounting Practices...

13. Fire Safety: Become A Fire Safety Expert

udemy
4.3
(484)

Become an expert in Fire Safety, Fire Hazards Control, Fire Evacuation Plans, and Fire Risk Assessment...

14. ISO 45001. Occupational health & safety management system

udemy
4.6
(4,258)

Upgrate your health and safety career by understanding the requriements for an OH & S management system from ISO 45001...

15. Occupational Health & Safety Training

udemy
4.4
(1,198)

Workplace Health and Safety Course For Employees & Managers...

16. Customer Service Mastery: Delight Every Customer

udemy
4.7
(18,204)

Master Customer Service using this practical customer care course...

17. Customer Service

udemy
4.6
(11,267)

How to Approach New Customers and Maintain Existing Ones...

18. NEBOSH health and safety Management System

udemy
4.3
(448)

It Shows the Start point to Build your Health & safety Career and how to Join the field and becoming HSE Specialist...

19. OSHA Safety Training: Heat Stress Management

udemy
4.6
(465)

A Workplace Safety Management Course for Current and Future Safety Professionals...

20. Customer Service & Support For Customer Service Executives

udemy
4.5
(941)

Learn Customer Service Skills & Provide Excellent Customer Support, Customer Experience & How To Manage Upset Customers...

Average lead server salary by education level

According to our data, lead servers with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $41,021 annually. Lead servers with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $37,964.
Lead server education levelLead server salary
Master's Degree$41,021
High School Diploma or Less$30,089
Bachelor's Degree$37,964
Some College/ Associate Degree$33,796

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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