A waiter or waitress takes orders, serves food and drinks, and handles payments in restaurants and other food service settings. It is customer-facing work that you can start with a high school diploma. Here is what the job involves, the skills it takes, and how to get in.
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Waiters and waitresses work directly with customers to take orders, serve meals and beverages, and process payments. You'll spend your shift on your feet, moving between tables and the kitchen, handling dishes and glassware. The role requires you to listen carefully to customer requests, communicate clearly with kitchen staff and managers, and judge how to meet each table's needs. You'll use math to calculate bills and tips, and stay alert to spot when customers need refills or assistance.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Waiters and Waitresses earn a median of $35,230 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is softer here. Employment is projected to fall 1 percent from 2024 to 2034, though there are still about 456,700 openings a year from turnover.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
Most waiter and waitress positions require a high school diploma or equivalent. Many restaurants hire and train on the job, teaching you their menu, systems, and service standards. Some employers prefer candidates with prior food service experience or completion of a food handler certification. Starting as a busser or host can also lead to a waiter or waitress role. Look for openings at restaurants, cafes, hotels, and catering companies in your area.
Most people enter this work through direct application and on-the-job training. If you are exploring whether food service fits your strengths and schedule, Pathly can map the waiter and waitress path that fits you with your counselor to map out a realistic first step.
You do not need a license to work as a waiter and waitress, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You are organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable following procedures. You prefer clear expectations and structured environments where you can do reliable work and build steady skills.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
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Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).