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Become A Server

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Working As A Server

  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
  • Performing General Physical Activities
  • Getting Information
  • Selling or Influencing Others
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

  • Deal with People

  • Outdoors/walking/standing

  • $24,005

    Average Salary

What Does A Server Do

Waiters and waitresses take orders and serve food and beverages to customers in dining establishments.

Duties

Waiters and waitresses typically do the following:

  • Greet customers, present menus, and explain daily specials to customers
  • Answer questions related to menu
  • Take food and beverage orders from customers
  • Relay food and beverage orders to the kitchen staff
  • Prepare drinks and food garnishes
  • Carry trays of food or drinks from the kitchen to the dining tables
  • Remove dirty dishes and glasses, and clean tables after customers finish meals
  • Prepare itemized checks and take payments from customers
  • Set up dining areas, refill condiments, and stock service areas

Waiters and waitresses, also called servers, are responsible for ensuring that customers have a satisfying dining experience. The specific duties of servers vary with the establishment in which they work.

In casual-dining restaurants that offer simple menu items, such as salads, soups, and sandwiches, servers provide fast, efficient, and courteous service. In fine-dining restaurants, where more complicated meals are prepared and are often served over several courses, waiters and waitresses emphasize personal, attentive treatment at a more leisurely pace. For example, they may suggest a beverage choice such as a wine recommendation with certain foods.

Waiters and waitresses may meet with managers and chefs before each shift to discuss the menu or specials, review ingredients for potential food allergies, or talk about any food safety concerns. They also discuss coordination between the kitchen and the dining room and review any customer service issues from the previous day or shift.

In establishments where alcohol is served, waiters and waitresses verify the age of customers and ensure that they meet legal requirements for the purchase of alcohol.

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How To Become A Server

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.

Education

No formal education is required to become a waiter or waitress.

Training

Most waiters and waitresses learn their skills through short-term on-the-job-training, usually lasting a few weeks. Trainees typically work with an experienced waiter or waitress, who teaches them basic serving techniques.

Some full-service restaurants provide new employees with some form of classroom training that alternates with periods of on-the-job work experience. These training programs communicate the operating philosophy of the restaurant, help new servers establish a rapport with other staff, teach serving techniques, and instill a desire to work as a team. They also discuss customer service situations and the proper ways to handle unpleasant circumstances or unruly customers.

Training for waiters and waitresses in establishments that serve alcohol typically involves learning state and local laws concerning the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some states, counties, and cities mandate the training, which typically lasts a few hours and can be taken online or in-house.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Waiters and waitresses must listen carefully to customers’ specific requests, ask questions, and relay the information to the kitchen staff, so that orders are prepared to the customers’ satisfaction.

Customer-service skills. Waiters and waitresses spend most of their work time serving customers. They should be friendly and polite and be able to develop a rapport with customers.

Detail oriented. Waiters and waitresses must record customers’ orders accurately. They need be able to recall the details of each order and match the food or drink orders to the correct customers.

Interpersonal skills. Waiters and waitresses should be courteous, tactful, and attentive as they deal with customers in all circumstances to resolve any issues that arise.

Physical stamina. Waiters and waitresses spend hours on their feet carrying heavy trays, dishes, and drinks.

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Do you work as a Server?

Server Jobs

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Do you work as a Server?

Help others decide if this is a good career for them

Average Length of Employment
Server And Certified Trainer 3.1 years
Lead Server 2.9 years
Head Server 2.9 years
Bartender Server 2.7 years
Waitress/Bartender 2.6 years
Restaurant Server 2.3 years
Food And Beverage Server 2.3 years
Cocktail Server 2.2 years
Food Server 2.2 years
Server 2.0 years
Waitress 1.9 years
Waitress/Hostess 1.9 years
Server And Hostess 1.9 years
Cocktail Waitress 1.8 years
Counter Server 1.6 years
Server Assistant 1.4 years
Hostess 1.3 years
Server/Barista 1.3 years
Food Runner 1.3 years
Food Runner/Busser 1.3 years
Top Employers Before
Cashier 15.7%
Sales Associate 12.6%
Hostess 7.3%
Customer Service Representative 6.4%
Internship 6.3%
Bartender Server 6.2%
Server And Hostess 5.8%
Assistant Manager 4.2%
Receptionist 4.1%
Volunteer 3.5%
Manager 3.3%
Bartender 3.2%
Office Assistant 3.1%
Crew Member 3.1%
Administrative Assistant 3.1%
Teller 3.0%
Waitress 2.6%
Sales Representative 2.4%
Barista 2.2%
Assistant 1.9%
Top Employers After
Sales Associate 11.7%
Cashier 11.7%
Customer Service Representative 9.1%
Bartender Server 9.0%
Internship 6.4%
Bartender 6.1%
Assistant Manager 5.0%
Manager 4.7%
Receptionist 3.8%
Teller 3.7%
Administrative Assistant 3.6%
Hostess 3.6%
Server And Hostess 3.4%
Sales Representative 3.3%
Office Assistant 3.0%
Volunteer 2.9%
Certified Nursing Assistant 2.5%
Barista 2.2%
Crew Member 2.1%
Cook 2.1%

Do you work as a Server?

Server Demographics

Gender

Female

64.6%

Male

33.6%

Unknown

1.8%
Ethnicity

White

79.0%

Hispanic or Latino

12.1%

Asian

6.8%

Unknown

1.5%

Black or African American

0.5%
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Languages Spoken

Spanish

61.1%

French

9.9%

German

3.8%

Italian

2.9%

Chinese

2.6%

Portuguese

2.5%

Mandarin

2.4%

Japanese

2.4%

Russian

2.3%

Korean

1.8%

Arabic

1.7%

Vietnamese

1.2%

Cantonese

1.0%

Greek

0.9%

Polish

0.8%

Hindi

0.6%

Tagalog

0.6%

Thai

0.6%

Swedish

0.5%

Hebrew

0.4%
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Server Education

Schools

University of Phoenix

8.7%

University of Central Florida

8.5%

Florida State University

5.5%

University of North Texas

5.3%

Valencia College

5.0%

University of South Florida

4.9%

Temple University

4.9%

West Virginia University

4.9%

Georgia State University

4.9%

Texas State University

4.8%

Liberty University

4.8%

Arizona State University

4.7%

Michigan State University

4.6%

University of Alabama

4.4%

Northern Virginia Community College

4.3%

Middle Tennessee State University

4.2%

Virginia Commonwealth University

4.1%

Towson University

4.0%

Pennsylvania State University

3.8%

Southern New Hampshire University

3.8%
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Majors

Business

19.6%

Psychology

10.4%

Communication

7.3%

Nursing

7.1%

Criminal Justice

6.9%

General Studies

4.7%

Biology

4.0%

Health Care Administration

3.9%

Marketing

3.8%

Accounting

3.8%

Medical Assisting Services

3.8%

Liberal Arts

3.3%

Kinesiology

3.2%

English

3.2%

Management

2.7%

Hospitality Management

2.7%

Political Science

2.5%

Education

2.5%

Graphic Design

2.3%

Sociology

2.3%
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Degrees

Bachelors

43.0%

Other

33.1%

Associate

13.2%

Masters

4.9%

Certificate

3.5%

Diploma

1.3%

License

0.6%

Doctorate

0.5%
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Job type you want
Full Time
Part Time
Internship
Temporary

Real Server Salaries

Job Title Company Location Start Date Salary
Servers New RH, LLC. Friday Harbor, WA May 05, 2016 $37,670
Server The Twineagles Club LLC Naples, FL Oct 15, 2016 $31,305
Server The Twineagles Club LLC Naples, FL Oct 15, 2015 $31,305
Server 2 Hermitage Club LLC Dover, VT Dec 04, 2016 $30,387
Server Hermitage Club LLC Dover, VT Nov 15, 2015 $29,990
Server Steamboat Wharf of Provincetown, Inc. Provincetown, MA May 01, 2016 $29,114
Server Island Holdings LLC Edgartown, MA Apr 07, 2016 $29,114
Server Great Harbor Yacht Club, Inc. Nantucket, MA May 25, 2016 $29,114
Server The Westmoor Club Nantucket, MA May 15, 2016 $29,114
Server Nantucket Hotel Holdings LLC Nantucket, MA Apr 18, 2016 $29,114
Server Pine Brook Country Club Weston, MA May 01, 2016 $28,968
Asian Restaurant Host Alley Pond House, Corp. NY May 13, 2016 $27,997
Server Imperial Golf Club, Inc. Naples, FL Nov 01, 2016 $27,507
Server The Players Club & Spa, LLC Naples, FL Nov 01, 2016 $27,507
Server Hunters Run Property Owners Association, Inc. Boynton Beach, FL Oct 01, 2016 $24,794
Server Sebonack Golf Club LLC Southampton, NY May 01, 2015 $24,794
Server The Muttontown Club East Norwich, NY May 01, 2015 $24,794
Server Glen Oaks Club, Inc. Old Westbury, NY May 01, 2015 $24,794
Server Granlibakken Resort Sunnyside-Tahoe City, CA May 01, 2016 $24,606
Server Sebonack Golf Club LLC Southampton, NY May 01, 2016 $24,001
Servers Wychmere Harbor Functions, LP Harwich Port, MA Jun 01, 2016 $23,813
Servers Eastward Ho! Country Club, Inc. Chatham, MA May 15, 2016 $23,813
Server Ocean Reef Club, Inc. Key Largo, FL Nov 01, 2016 $22,853
Server Sailfish Point Property Owners and Country Club Association, Inc. Stuart, FL Oct 01, 2015 $22,435
Server Sailfish Point Property Owners and Country Club Association, Inc. Stuart, FL Oct 01, 2016 $22,435
Server Green Valley Country Club Lafayette, PA May 01, 2015 $22,373
Server Brothers Property Management Corp Whitefield, NH May 01, 2016 $22,268
Server Northwood Hospitality, LLC Islamorada Village of Islands, FL Dec 29, 2015 $22,247
Server Anglers Club Members Association, Inc. Key Largo, FL Oct 26, 2016 $22,247
Servers Best Solutions USA, LLC Kiawah Island, SC May 13, 2016 $21,914

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Top Skills for A Server

OutstandingCustomerServiceQualityCustomerServiceCurrentMenuItemsFoodOrdersPOSFoodPreparationDrinkOrdersCommunicationSkillsCustomerOrdersCustomerServiceSkillsDailySpecialsAlcoholicBeveragesGuestSatisfactionCleanTablesHighVolumeFoodItemsLargePartiesBeverageOrdersTo-GoOrdersPositiveAttitude

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  1. Outstanding Customer Service
  2. Quality Customer Service
  3. Current Menu Items
You can check out examples of real life uses of top skills on resumes here:
  • Provided outstanding customer service; operated computer system; conducted money transactions; maintained cleanliness; stocked work area.
  • Provide quality customer service and interaction with guests in a fast-paced environment.
  • Maintained knowledge of current menu items, garnishes, ingredients, and preparation methods to run food out correctly.
  • Take food orders and relay orders to kitchens or serving counters so they can be filled.
  • Involved in ensuring a positive guest experience from start to finish.

How Would You Rate Working As a Server?

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Top Server Employers

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Server Videos

A day in the life of a server

How To Be A More Successful Server (Pt. 1)

Server (fine dining), Career Video from drkit.org

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