What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Waiters and Waitresses in the U.S. earn more than $35,230 a year — the middle 80% land between $18,100 and $64,720. About 2.3 million people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Waiters and Waitresses”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Service and sales workers earn about ₹15,575 a month on average — around ₹1.9 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$35,230typical pay / year
2.3 millionpeople in this work
$64,720+top 10% earn
₹1.9 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Sending & sharing3
Take payments
+Run the payment station for tonight's banquet: accept card and cash, ring each sale with table number, hand…
Take payments
+Run the payment station for tonight's banquet: accept card and cash, ring each sale with table number, hand guests receipts, batch and drop the till float into the safe at the break, then hand the reconciliation slip to Sarah the manager.
The tools that do the workHospitality Control Solutions Aloha Point-of-SaleESCOjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Escort customers to their tables.
+Seat the Smith party at table 12, confirm wheelchair access and highchair, point out restrooms and buffet…
Escort customers to their tables.
+Seat the Smith party at table 12, confirm wheelchair access and highchair, point out restrooms and buffet flow, hand each guest a menu, note allergy or service needs on the reservation pad, and tell them I will return in five minutes.
The tools that do the workHospitality Control Solutions Aloha Point-of-Salejob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Serve food or beverages
+Serve the plated main course to table 8 starting with the host, describe each dish briefly, offer water and…
Serve food or beverages
+Serve the plated main course to table 8 starting with the host, describe each dish briefly, offer water and beverage top-ups, check temperatures discreetly, clear plates promptly and ask if any adjustments are needed.
The tools that do the workMICROS Systems HSI Profits SeriesESCOjob descriptionsWikipedia
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Move1
Take food and drink orders
+Take drink and entree orders for table 12: note allergies and preferred doneness, repeat the order to the…
Take food and drink orders
+Take drink and entree orders for table 12: note allergies and preferred doneness, repeat the order to the captain, send starters immediately, mark modifications on the ticket, and check back with the table within eight minutes.
The tools that do the workNCR NeighborhoodPOSjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Care1
Help bus tables and clear dishes
+Clear and reset section B after the 8pm seating: buss plates into the tray, scrape and stack crockery by…
Help bus tables and clear dishes
+Clear and reset section B after the 8pm seating: buss plates into the tray, scrape and stack crockery by course, wipe and sanitize the table tops and condiments, and stage clean settings for the next seating within ten minutes.
The tools that do the workBlinkjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Get approval1
Address dietary requirements or concerns
+Tell the Hernandez table I will review their gluten-free and dairy-free requests with the kitchen, write the…
Address dietary requirements or concerns
+Tell the Hernandez table I will review their gluten-free and dairy-free requests with the kitchen, write the restrictions on the kitchen order ticket, confirm safe substitution options with the chef, and return with the confirmed plate choices.
The tools that do the workComprisESCOjob descriptions
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The daily work19
Upsell menu items and specials
+Pitch today's specials and add-on appetizers to arriving tables by name, suggest wine pairings based on the…
Upsell menu items and specials
+Pitch today's specials and add-on appetizers to arriving tables by name, suggest wine pairings based on the menu, note any dietary needs, and record orders for kitchen priority so the catering manager Jordan can confirm before service.
The tools that do the workPOSjob descriptionsO*NET
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Greet guests and seat them
+Meet guests at the main ballroom entrance, welcome them by event name, confirm their reservation on the…
Greet guests and seat them
+Meet guests at the main ballroom entrance, welcome them by event name, confirm their reservation on the seating list, escort them to their assigned table and inform Emma the host if there are accessibility or seating issues.
The tools that do the workComprisjob descriptionsO*NET
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Serve food and beverages to tables
+Deliver courses in the plated sequence, check each guest for dietary restrictions before serving, clear…
Serve food and beverages to tables
+Deliver courses in the plated sequence, check each guest for dietary restrictions before serving, clear plates between courses discreetly, and alert the kitchen immediately if any guest reports an allergy reaction.
The tools that do the workMICROS Systems HSI Profits Seriesjob descriptionsO*NET
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Prepare tables
+Set each table to the event plan: pressed linens, centerpieces centered, correct glassware and place settings…
Prepare tables
+Set each table to the event plan: pressed linens, centerpieces centered, correct glassware and place settings for the menu, tasting notes folded at the top right, and confirm head table layout with Banquet Captain Maria before guests arrive.
The tools that do the workCompris Advanced Manager's WorkstationESCOjob descriptions
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Check patrons' identification to ensure that they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages.
+When a guest orders alcohol, visually inspect their ID for birthdate and security features, ask for a second…
Check patrons' identification to ensure that they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages.
+When a guest orders alcohol, visually inspect their ID for birthdate and security features, ask for a second ID if unclear, refuse service to anyone underage and report the incident to Duty Manager Carlos with the guest details and ID photo.
The tools that do the workHospitality Control Solutions Aloha Point-of-SaleO*NET
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Follow rules and guidelines set by management
+Follow management’s service standards tonight at the ballroom: greet each table within three minutes,…
Follow rules and guidelines set by management
+Follow management’s service standards tonight at the ballroom: greet each table within three minutes, announce specials and allergen info, carry plates by the base, clear courses promptly, log any guest complaints with the supervisor before shift end.
The tools that do the workComprisWikipedia
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Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes.
+Prepare and print individual guest checks that list each plated meal, its price, subtotal, calculated sales…
Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes.
+Prepare and print individual guest checks that list each plated meal, its price, subtotal, calculated sales tax, service charge when applicable, and a final total, then hand each printed check to the table captain before clearing plates.
The tools that do the workMICROS Systems HSI Profits SeriesO*NET
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Explain how various menu items are prepared, describing ingredients and cooking methods.
+Describe each menu item to the guest by naming the main ingredients, the cooking method used, common…
Explain how various menu items are prepared, describing ingredients and cooking methods.
+Describe each menu item to the guest by naming the main ingredients, the cooking method used, common allergens to watch for, and suggest suitable modifications for dietary needs while checking with the kitchen for feasibility.
The tools that do the workPOSO*NET
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Fill salt, pepper, sugar, cream, condiment, and napkin containers.
+Replenish tabletop containers by refilling salt, pepper, sugar packets, creamers, condiment bottles and…
Fill salt, pepper, sugar, cream, condiment, and napkin containers.
+Replenish tabletop containers by refilling salt, pepper, sugar packets, creamers, condiment bottles and napkin dispensers, checking each item is clean, sealed where required, and replacing any empties before service resumes.
The tools that do the workThe General StoreO*NET
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Prepare hot, cold, and mixed drinks for patrons, and chill bottles of wine.
+Prepare requested beverages by making espresso, brewed coffee, soft drinks and cocktails to spec, present…
Prepare hot, cold, and mixed drinks for patrons, and chill bottles of wine.
+Prepare requested beverages by making espresso, brewed coffee, soft drinks and cocktails to spec, present them on a tray balanced and garnished, and chill or ice wine bottles before service to tables.
The tools that do the workHospitality Control Solutions Aloha Point-of-SaleO*NET
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Provide guests with information about local areas, including directions.
+When guests ask about local attractions or need directions, provide concise walking or driving directions to…
Provide guests with information about local areas, including directions.
+When guests ask about local attractions or need directions, provide concise walking or driving directions to landmarks, recommend nearby restaurants or transit options, and note travel time estimates and any accessibility considerations.
The tools that do the workFacebookO*NET
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Describe and recommend wines to customers.
+Introduce the wine list, describe each bottle’s varietal, region, body, typical flavor notes, and food…
Describe and recommend wines to customers.
+Introduce the wine list, describe each bottle’s varietal, region, body, typical flavor notes, and food pairings, ask about the guest’s taste and budget, then recommend one or two bottles and offer a taste when appropriate.
The tools that do the workComprisO*NET
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Coordinate timing with bar and kitchen
+Coordinate with the bar and the kitchen so hors d'oeuvres hit the serving station at 7:30, bartenders start…
Coordinate timing with bar and kitchen
+Coordinate with the bar and the kitchen so hors d'oeuvres hit the serving station at 7:30, bartenders start cocktail service at 7:15, and runners stage plated entrees five minutes before entrees are called; confirm by 7:00.
The tools that do the workHospitality Control Solutions Aloha Point-of-Salejob descriptions
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Follow food safety and hygiene standards
+Run the temperature and sanitizer checks, change gloves, and ensure all hot holding units read safe temps…
Follow food safety and hygiene standards
+Run the temperature and sanitizer checks, change gloves, and ensure all hot holding units read safe temps before service; report any food safety failure to the banquet captain immediately and log the checks after the shift.
The tools that do the workCompris Advanced Manager's Workstationjob descriptions
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Assist with opening and closing tasks
+Set up the side stations, restock glassware and serviceware, unlock and inspect the dining room at 3:45 for a…
Assist with opening and closing tasks
+Set up the side stations, restock glassware and serviceware, unlock and inspect the dining room at 3:45 for a 5:00 event, and follow the checklist to close down, count linens and secure leftovers with the banquet captain.
The tools that do the workMICROS Systems HSI Profits Seriesjob descriptions
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Support teammates during busy shifts
+Jump onto the busiest station when the room fills, run drinks between bar and tables, pick up cleared plates,…
Support teammates during busy shifts
+Jump onto the busiest station when the room fills, run drinks between bar and tables, pick up cleared plates, and call for back-up when lines exceed five guests to keep service moving and teammates unblocked.
The tools that do the workNCR NeighborhoodPOSjob descriptions
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Provide menu recommendations
+Ask the host about guest dietary needs, suggest two crowd-pleasing starters and one vegetarian main with…
Provide menu recommendations
+Ask the host about guest dietary needs, suggest two crowd-pleasing starters and one vegetarian main with reasons, upsell a wine pairing, and note the choices on the event sheet before taking orders.
The tools that do the workThe General Storejob descriptions
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Polish dishes and silverware
+Polish all place settings and silver between seatings, check for water spots and scratches, replenish the…
Polish dishes and silverware
+Polish all place settings and silver between seatings, check for water spots and scratches, replenish the service cart, and stage the cleaned items under the pass to be inspected by the captain before the next seating.
The tools that do the workComprisWikipedia
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The general store
+Record today's cash-outs, bottle and keg inventory adjustments, and a detailed void for the returned…
The general store
+Record today's cash-outs, bottle and keg inventory adjustments, and a detailed void for the returned appetizer in the general store, include server name, table number, and manager initials for tonight's audit.
The tools that do the workThe General StoreO*NET
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses