Waiters and Waitresses: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Waiters and Waitresses fall under the Food Preparation and Serving category in the U.S. occupational classification. Waiters and Waitresses earn a median salary of $33,760 per year, ranking in the top 98% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -0.7% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do waiters and waitresses earn?

The median annual wage for waiters and waitresses is $33,760. That puts waiters and waitresses at #793 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is waiters and waitresses a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for waiters and waitresses is -0.7%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 2.3M positions in 2024 to 2.3M in 2034, a net change of -16K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do waiters and waitresses do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working waiters and waitresses, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals, and take action to correct any problems.
2. 2.Take orders from patrons for food or beverages.
3. 3.Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes.
4. 4.Remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters, and take them to kitchen for cleaning.
5. 5.Clean tables or counters after patrons have finished dining.
6. 6.Serve food or beverages to patrons, and prepare or serve specialty dishes at tables as required.
7. 7.Roll silverware, set up food stations, or set up dining areas to prepare for the next shift or for large parties.
8. 8.Explain how various menu items are prepared, describing ingredients and cooking methods.

Top skills for waiters and waitresses

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become waiters and waitresse?

Many waiters and waitresses enter the field with a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, though employers increasingly favor candidates with certifications or some postsecondary coursework. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Chefs and Head Cooks
  $60,990 median
• Cooks, Private Household
  $44,530 median
• First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
  $42,010 median
• Cooks, Restaurant
  $36,830 median
• Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
  $36,450 median
• Cooks, All Other
  $36,210 median

Common questions parents ask about waiters and waitresses