Waiters & Waitresses
Description OES Code: 65008
Serve food and/or beverages to patrons at tables. Usually take orders from patron and make out check. May set table with linen and silverware and take payment from patron. May serve customers at counter as well as table. Exclude workers who only work at counters.

Wages, California
Entry-Level Hourly Wage minimum
25th Percentile minimum
50th Percentile $6.47
75th Percentile $7.22

Wages, San Joaquin County
Entry-Level Hourly Wage minimum
25th Percentile minimum
50th Percentile $6.31
75th Percentile $6.79

Wages by California County
• OES Survey
• CCOIS Survey

Hours & Benefits
Waiters and Waitresses generally work a 32 hour work week; about half the employees in this occupation work part time, averaging 21 hours per week.

The employer usually provides one or two free meals per shift, depending on the length of the shift. Some employers provide life insurance and health and dental insurance. These benefits often are tied to and dependent upon the number of hours worked per week. In some work places, uniforms are provided for Waiters and Waitresses and sometimes the employer takes responsibility for uniform laundering.

Employment Trends, California
Employment 1998 204,500
Projected Employment 2008 245,600
Percent Change 1998-2008 20.1%
Separations 1998-2008 124,000

Employment Trends, San Joaquin County
Employment 1999 2,490
Projected Employment 2006 2,940
Percent Change 1999-2006 18.1%
Separations 1999-2006 1,060

Employment Trends by California County

Advancement
A few Waiters and Waitresses advance to supervisory jobs, like Head Waiter, Dining Room Supervisor, or Restaurant Manager.

Getting the Job & Other Information
If you're interested in getting work as a Waiter or Waitress, you should contact employers directly or file an application with the California Employment Development Department. You should also contact the local unions or read the newspaper want ads.

For current job listings, browse CalJOBS or America's Job Bank.

Education and Training
Waiters and Waitresses in restaurants that serve liquor must be at least 21 years old to serve alcohol. In some counties you have to pass a Food Handler course, before being hired. Contact your county health department for a list of authorized schools that give the course.

In some Mexican, Chinese, Vietnamese, etc., restaurants knowing how to speak the language is a plus and sometimes necessary.

Skills & Other Requirements
To be a Waiter or Waitress you have to be able to think fast and have a good memory and be good at arithmetic. That's because in a lot of places the customers want their food right away, and you have to be able to remember their orders and write them down on the check correctly. You have to add up the items on the check without making a mistake and be able to figure out the tax.

In fancier places the customers are not in so much of a rush, but that also means they expect extra courtesy and better service. So, in these places you can relax a bit more, but you have to pay more attention to the customers. They might want you to explain what goes into their meal and how it is cooked. You might recommend what wine they'd like to drink or you might prepare simple items like salads at the table.

Some smaller restaurants might have you doing things other types of workers are usually expected to do, like showing customers to their tables, or cleaning and setting up tables, or refilling salt and pepper shakers and making sure the mustard and ketchup bottles are full.

References
California Occupational Guide: #42

Related Occupations: Dining Room Attendant

Training: California Training and Education Providers (CTEP)