How To Become A Server: What It Is and Career Path

Q: How long does it take to become a Server?

It takes 2 years of professional experience to become a server. That is the time it takes to learn specific server skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.

Q: How do I become a server with no experience?

You can become a server with no experience with your high school diploma or by developing skills for the job. There are many opportunities to become a server with no experience, but if you want to do well in the role, you should develop communication and interpersonal skills.

Q: How do I start being a waitress?

To start being a waitress, begin working at a casual restaurant. Here, you will learn the necessary skills to advance to a higher-paced waitress position. Before a person applies for a job, they should understand the style of restaurant they will be working for and whether they have the skills and experience to succeed.

Q: How does a server work?

A server works by ensuring that diners have a positive experience while eating out. This involves greeting diners as they sit down, handing them menus, taking food and drink orders, and ensuring that everyone gets their food and drinks in a timely manner.

Q: How to get a waitress job at a strip club

To get a waitress job at a strip club, you need to research local strip clubs, go to adult entertainment industry events, and tailor your resume. Here are some details on how to get a job at a strip club:

Q: Is being a server easy?

No, being a server is not easy. Being a server requires long hours with a lot of physical activity. Servers must walk and be on their feet for most of their shift, and often have to carry plates of food and drinks to the tables they are waiting.

Q: What are the pros and cons of being a server?

There are several pros and cons of being a server. The pros are flexible work hours and low requirements, while the cons are physical demands and stressful customers. Here is a more detailed look at the pros and cons of being a server:

What is a server and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A server is a person who works in the hospitality industry, typically in restaurants, cafes, or bars. A server works in the hospitality industry, typically in restaurants, cafes, or bars. Their primary responsibility is to take orders from customers and serve food and beverages. Servers must have excellent communication skills and be able to multitask in a fast-paced environment. They must also be knowledgeable about the menu and be able to answer questions or make recommendations. Additionally, servers are responsible for handling payments and ensuring that customers have an enjoyable dining experience.

ScoreServerUS Average

Salary

2.3

Avg. Salary $29,901

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.2

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.76%

Asian 8.22%

Black or African American 12.01%

Hispanic or Latino 19.45%

Unknown 5.48%

White 54.08%

Gender

female 67.95%

male 32.05%

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

What are the pros and cons of being a server?

Pros

Opportunity to earn tips
- Develop customer service skills
Can be a fun and social job
Free or discounted meals
Can build teamwork skills

Cons

Low base pay
Long and irregular hours
High stress levels during busy shifts
Limited benefits and job security
Difficult to balance work and personal life

Key steps to become a server

Explore server education requirements

Most common server degrees

Bachelor's

40.4 %

High School Diploma

30.1 %

Associate

18.1 %

Start to develop specific server skills

Skills	Percentages
Wine	15.10%
Customer Service	9.77%
Guest Satisfaction	8.35%
Cleanliness	7.15%
Cash Handling	7.15%

Complete relevant server training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New servers 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 server based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real server resumes.

Research server duties and responsibilities

Manage expediter window paying close attention to garnishes and presentation.
Provide exceptional customer service, while frequently checking for food allergies, by utilizing excellent communication and multitasking skills.
Maximize profits by upselling food and alcoholic beverages and utilizing excellent customer service skills to ensure guests repeat business.
Clean bars, work areas, and tables.

Prepare your server resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your server 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 server resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable server resume templates

Build a professional server 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 server resume.

Apply for server jobs

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

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

How do servers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Server reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2021

Pros

A total time you spend knowing and communicate and get attachment to the clients

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.

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020

Pros

I like food, I believe that food is a comfort and food brings people together, and I like being apart of this.

Cons

Many restaurants are corporate or franchisees, and they dont really have good management, which leads to not hiring people on skill, but just to fill the space, which leads to high turn over rates for both FOH, BOH and management. There's no stability

What is a server and how to become one

What are the pros and cons of being a server?

Server career paths

Key steps to become a server

Explore server education requirements

Most common server degrees

Start to develop specific server skills

Complete relevant server training and internships

Research server duties and responsibilities

Prepare your server resume

Choose from 10+ customizable server resume templates

Apply for server jobs

How did you land your first server job

Average server salary

How do servers rate their job?

Server reviews

Server FAQs

How long does it take to become a Server?

How do I become a server with no experience?

How do I start being a waitress?

How does a server work?

How to get a waitress job at a strip club

Is being a server easy?

What are the pros and cons of being a server?

Search for server jobs

Server jobs by state