How to hire a Server Assistant

How to hire a server assistant, step by step

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

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

What does a Server Assistant do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the server assistant you need to hire. Certain server assistant roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine Employee vs Contractor Status

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

   Yes

   No

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

   Type Of Server Assistant	Description	Hourly Rate
   Server Assistant	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.	$9-15
   Food Runner	Food Runners are responsible for assisting waitstaff on serving customers at a restaurant or similar establishment. Among their duties include maintaining cleanliness in particular areas, setting tables, refilling drinks, assisting customers with everything that they need, and coordinating with the workforce in and out of the kitchen... Show More	$8-16
   Food Runner/Busser	A food runner or busser is an employee who works at a restaurant to provide quality food services to customers and patrons. Food runners or bussers perform food preparation and ensure that foods are delivered promptly to the appropriate customers' tables... Show More	$10-17

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common Skills:

   • Cleanliness
   • Reservations
   • Service Stations
   • Wine
   • Ruby
   • Exceptional Dining
   • Food Handling
   • Seat Guests
   • Customer Service
   • Guest Satisfaction
   • Fine Dining
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Good Communication
   • To-Go Orders

   Check All Skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage event reservations and party requests, inform customers about upcoming events and specials.
   • Set up chairs, tables, and workstations.
   • Stock the bar and service areas for bartenders and beverage servers.
   • Deliver food orders to guests accordingly to five stars five diamonds standards.
   • Direct other beverage servers and bartenders when to take breaks and for how long.
   • Assist servers with taking orders, ringing in orders on the POS and running food.

   More Server Assistant duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your server assistant job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A server assistant salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a server assistant in Tennessee may be lower than in Maine, and an entry-level server assistant usually earns less than a senior-level server assistant. Additionally, a server assistant with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average server assistant salary

   $12.33hourly

   $25,654 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level server assistant salary

   $19,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 24, 2025

   Average server assistant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. Salary	Hourly Rate
   1	Washington	$30,457	$15
   2	Oregon	$28,924	$14
   3	Massachusetts	$28,783	$14
   4	California	$28,550	$14
   5	New York	$25,597	$12
   6	Colorado	$24,875	$12
   7	Georgia	$23,192	$11
   8	Illinois	$23,135	$11
   9	Arizona	$23,007	$11
   10	Texas	$22,996	$11
   11	Ohio	$22,370	$11
   12	Oklahoma	$22,078	$11
   13	West Virginia	$22,014	$11
   14	Indiana	$21,884	$11
   15	New Mexico	$21,610	$10
   16	Pennsylvania	$21,517	$10
   17	Florida	$21,291	$10
   18	North Carolina	$21,279	$10
   19	Virginia	$21,199	$10
   20	Missouri	$20,974	$10

   Average server assistant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Openings
   1	Pioneer High School	$36,940	$17.76
   2	Anthony	$34,584	$16.63	17
   3	Sailfish Club of Florida	$34,306	$16.49	1
   4	Bay Head Yacht Club	$33,657	$16.18
   5	Blue Bird	$32,108	$15.44
   6	Sutter Health	$31,682	$15.23
   7	Nobu Restaurants	$30,895	$14.85	4
   8	Erickson Senior Living	$30,613	$14.72	73
   9	Oahu Country Club	$30,115	$14.48	5
   10	Wegmans Food Markets	$29,847	$14.35	11
   11	Kona Grill	$29,668	$14.26	52
   12	ADA-ES	$29,501	$14.18
   13	Gravie	$29,452	$14.16
   14	Andiamo	$29,335	$14.10
   15	Texas	$29,149	$14.01	3
   16	Piatti Ristorante	$29,057	$13.97
   17	Tableau	$28,825	$13.86
   18	The Fish Market Restaurants	$28,800	$13.85	5
   19	Compass Group USA	$28,786	$13.84	2,271
   20	Kingfish Restaurant	$28,531	$13.72

4. Writing a Server Assistant Job Description

   A server assistant 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 server assistant job description:

   Server Assistant job description example

   A Server Assistant is responsible for setting and clearing dining tables and stocking service stations in the hotel's continuing effort to deliver outstanding guest service and financial profitability.
   What will I be doing?
   
   As a Server Assistant, you would be responsible for setting and clearing dining tables and stocking service stations in the hotel's continuing effort to deliver outstanding guest service and financial profitability. Specifically, you would be responsible for performing the following tasks to the highest standards:
   
   Set and prepare tables for dining, including, but not limited to, folding napkins, cleaning and placing tableware, serving water, etc. Ensure tableware is in good and working condition and report any defects for repair Stock, maintain and clean designated food station(s) Assist food server(s) with table service, including, but not limited to, serving beverages, breads, etc. Retrieve and transport dirty tableware to dishwashing area Respond to guest inquiries and requests and resolve issues in a timely, friendly and efficient manner
   What are we looking for?
   
   Since being founded in 1919, Hilton has been a leader in the hospitality industry. Today, Hilton remains a beacon of innovation, quality, and success. This continued leadership is the result of our Team Members staying true to our Vision, Mission, and Values. Specifically, we look for demonstration of these Values:
   Hospitality - We're passionate about delivering exceptional guest experiences. Integrity - We do the right thing, all the time. Leadership - We're leaders in our industry and in our communities. Teamwork - We're team players in everything we do. Ownership - We're the owners of our actions and decisions. Now - We operate with a sense of urgency and discipline
   In addition, we look for the demonstration of the following key attributes:
   Quality Productivity Dependability Customer Focus Adaptability What will it be like to work for Hilton?
   
   Hilton is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For nearly a century, Hilton has offered business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. Hilton is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Our vision "to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality" unites us as a team to create remarkable hospitality experiences around the world every day. And, our amazing Team Members are at the heart of it all!

   Copy This Example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with server assistant candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 server assistant

   Once you've found the server assistant candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new server assistant 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.)

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How much does it cost to hire a server assistant?