How to hire a room service server

How to hire a room service server, step by step

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

What does a room service server do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a room service server, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A room service server's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, room service 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 presents room service server salaries for various positions.

   Type of Room Service Server	Description	Hourly rate
   Room Service 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.	$8-18
   Bus Boy	The job of busboys is to assist other staff members at a restaurant by doing varied tasks. These include greeting customers, cleaning and resetting tables, and removing dishes after customers leave... Show more	$7-17
   Banquet Captain	Banquet captains are responsible for directing each banquet staff in the entire meal service and assign tasks to them as required. Their duties include teaching new staff members how to execute their designated tasks in the banquet... Show more	$13-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Guest Rooms
   • Beverage Orders
   • In-Room
   • Cash Handling
   • Guest Service
   • Cleanliness
   • Wine
   • Food Service
   • Exceptional Guest
   • Guest Satisfaction
   • Room Service Trays
   • Fine Dining
   • Culinary
   • Meeting Rooms

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Clean and defrost mini bars regularly.
   • Train, maintain and enforce all Marriott service standards using use records, menus and appropriate reference materials.
   • Perform various financial activities such as cash and credit card processing, daily revenue reports, bank deposits, and payroll.
   • Assist in weekly payroll and scheduling responsibilities.
   • Establish a positive relationship with co-workers and managers through a solid work ethic, positive attitude, punctuality and dependability.
   • Build relationships with guests -help prepare for restaurant opening -Maintain restaurant at all times -Persuasive- positive use of upselling techniques

   More room service server duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the room service server job description is a good way to get more applicants. A room service server salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a room service server in Alabama may be lower than in Maine, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level room service server. Additionally, a room service server with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average room service server salary

   $12.84hourly

   $26,717 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level room service server salary

   $18,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average room service server salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Maine	$37,410	$18
   2	New York	$37,198	$18
   3	Washington	$37,024	$18
   4	Massachusetts	$35,205	$17
   5	District of Columbia	$33,525	$16
   6	California	$32,071	$15
   7	Colorado	$28,839	$14
   8	Maryland	$26,922	$13
   9	Ohio	$24,858	$12
   10	Arizona	$23,628	$11
   11	Florida	$23,407	$11
   12	Georgia	$23,207	$11
   13	Illinois	$22,843	$11
   14	Wisconsin	$22,598	$11
   15	Pennsylvania	$22,578	$11
   16	Indiana	$22,487	$11
   17	Arkansas	$22,154	$11
   18	Virginia	$22,119	$11
   19	Texas	$21,750	$10
   20	North Carolina	$20,969	$10

   Average room service server salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center	$47,771	$22.97
   2	Viceroy Inc	$40,621	$19.53
   3	Cottage Health	$39,019	$18.76	2
   4	HEI Hotels & Resorts	$38,079	$18.31	208
   5	Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants	$37,068	$17.82	214
   6	Radisson Hotels International Inc	$35,286	$16.96
   7	Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts	$34,468	$16.57	45
   8	Wyndham Hotels & Resorts	$34,449	$16.56
   9	Hyatt Hotels	$33,981	$16.34	290
   10	LifePoint Health	$30,908	$14.86	4
   11	Radisson	$28,823	$13.86
   12	Fantasy Springs Resort Casino	$28,568	$13.73
   13	Nordstrom	$28,238	$13.58	30
   14	Embassy C E S	$28,036	$13.48	22
   15	Community Health Network	$28,007	$13.46	3
   16	Lines	$27,895	$13.41	16
   17	ABM Industries	$27,757	$13.34	8
   18	Aimbridge Hospitality	$27,663	$13.30
   19	Zest Anchors	$27,063	$13.01	3
   20	Choctaw Casinos & Resorts	$26,598	$12.79

4. Writing a room service server job description

   A good room service server 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 room service server job description:

   Room service server job description example

   Are you ready to grow your dream career while making others' vacation dreams come true? Marriott Vacations Worldwide is a world premier organization for Vacation Ownership with resorts at destinations around the globe. Join our team and help deliver unforgettable experiences that make vacation dreams come true.
   
   Serve food courses and alcoholic beverages To guests. Set tables according to type of event and service standards. Answer questions on menu selections. Communicate with the kitchen regarding menu questions, the length of wait, recook orders, and product availability. Communicate additional meal requirements, allergies, dietary needs, and special requests to the kitchen. Record transaction in MICROS system at time of order. Check in with guests to ensure satisfaction with each food course and/or beverages. Maintain cleanliness of work areas, china, glass, etc., throughout the day. Complete closing duties, including restocking items, turning off lights, etc. Present physical and accurate check to guest and process payment.
   CORE WORK ACTIVITIES
   
   * Follow all company and safety and security policies and procedures; report accidents, injuries, and unsafe work conditions to manager; and complete safety training and certifications.
   * Ensure uniform and personal appearance are clean and professional, maintain confidentiality of proprietary information, and protect company assets.
   * Welcome and acknowledge all guests according to company standards, anticipate and address guests' service needs, assist individuals with disabilities, and thank guests with genuine appreciation.
   * Speak with others using clear and professional language.
   * Develop and maintain positive working relationships with others, support team to reach common goals, and listen and respond appropriately to the concerns of other employees.
   * Ensure adherence to quality expectations and standards.
   * Stand, sit, or walk for an extended period of time.
   * Move, lift, carry, push, pull, and place objects weighing less than or equal to 10 pounds without assistance.
   * Perform other reasonable job duties as requested by Supervisors.
   * Attention to customer service with a professional and pleasant personality.
   * Available to work a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
   * Job Description For Internal Candidates
   
   Marriott Vacations Worldwide is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find room service 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 room service server job on Zippia to find and recruit room service server candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting room service servers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 room service server

   Once you have selected a candidate for the room service server position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new room service server. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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 room service server?