Waiters and Waitresses
Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
- O*NET-SOC code
35-3031.00 - Preparation Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Wages
Median annual wage, U.S.$35,230
Employment, U.S.2,270,910
Median hourly wage$16.94
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $18,100 | $27,750 | $35,230 | $47,110 | $64,720 |
By state (51)
| State | Employment | Median annual | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 28,760 | $26,840 | 0.93 |
| Alaska | 3,830 | $26,310 | 0.80 |
| Arizona | 55,950 | $43,950 | 1.18 |
| Arkansas | 17,880 | $24,680 | 0.94 |
| California | 229,970 | $36,080 | 0.86 |
| Colorado | 40,680 | $44,860 | 0.97 |
| Connecticut | 22,370 | $37,770 | 0.90 |
| Delaware | 7,580 | $36,880 | 1.07 |
| District of Columbia | 11,530 | $47,850 | 1.12 |
| Florida | 207,180 | $36,150 | 1.43 |
| Georgia | 76,470 | $18,700 | 1.07 |
| Hawaii | 14,090 | $62,390 | 1.54 |
| Idaho | 10,950 | $30,050 | 0.87 |
| Illinois | 72,900 | $31,200 | 0.82 |
| Indiana | 43,620 | $28,480 | 0.93 |
| Iowa | 22,410 | $21,000 | 0.98 |
| Kansas | 19,480 | $36,120 | 0.93 |
| Kentucky | 27,150 | $29,660 | 0.93 |
| Louisiana | 33,870 | $15,080 | 1.20 |
| Maine | 9,090 | $43,370 | 0.97 |
| Maryland | 38,120 | $36,750 | 0.94 |
| Massachusetts | 54,670 | $38,460 | 1.03 |
| Michigan | 65,090 | $37,760 | 1.01 |
| Minnesota | 37,630 | $25,470 | 0.87 |
| Mississippi | 15,190 | $21,370 | 0.89 |
| Missouri | 41,640 | $29,400 | 0.97 |
| Montana | 7,200 | $23,370 | 0.96 |
| Nebraska | 13,310 | $33,770 | 0.89 |
| Nevada | 42,520 | $26,410 | 1.88 |
| New Hampshire | 10,030 | $38,430 | 1.01 |
| New Jersey | 55,800 | $44,960 | 0.89 |
| New Mexico | 12,740 | $36,920 | 1.00 |
| New York | 142,940 | $47,020 | 1.01 |
| North Carolina | 71,940 | $32,150 | 1.00 |
| North Dakota | 5,250 | $30,890 | 0.84 |
| Ohio | 77,250 | $36,700 | 0.95 |
| Oklahoma | 27,000 | $17,910 | 1.08 |
| Oregon | 23,040 | $48,410 | 0.80 |
| Pennsylvania | 82,300 | $34,690 | 0.93 |
| Rhode Island | 10,160 | $35,420 | 1.39 |
| South Carolina | 47,200 | $18,370 | 1.40 |
| South Dakota | 7,350 | $28,990 | 1.10 |
| Tennessee | 52,120 | $27,760 | 1.09 |
| Texas | 199,610 | $23,240 | 0.97 |
| Utah | 17,790 | $31,150 | 0.70 |
| Vermont | 4,040 | $59,140 | 0.91 |
| Virginia | 59,370 | $44,760 | 0.99 |
| Washington | 45,400 | $56,130 | 0.88 |
| West Virginia | 8,600 | $35,380 | 0.84 |
| Wisconsin | 36,220 | $29,670 | 0.84 |
| Wyoming | 3,620 | $23,920 | 0.88 |
Similar occupations
Similarity is our measure: the cosine of importance x level over all 120 O*NET skills, knowledge areas and abilities. It is not an O*NET finding. More.
Circles are the 20 most similar occupations, coloured by Job Zone. Lines join pairs where one is among the other's 10 most similar; darker lines are pairs O*NET also lists as related. Drag a circle to move it out of the way; select one to open it.
| # | Occupation | Job Zone | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | 1-2 | 0.964 |
| 2 | Baristas | 1-2 | 0.963 |
| 3 | Bartenders | 1-2 | 0.961 |
| 4 | Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | 1-2 | 0.960 |
| 5 | Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1-2 | 0.956 |
| 6 | Cashiers | 1-2 | 0.954 |
| 7 | Animal Caretakers | 1-2 | 0.950 |
| 8 | Amusement and Recreation Attendants | 1-2 | 0.950 |
| 9 | Cooks, Fast Food | 1-2 | 0.949 |
| 10 | Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | 1-2 | 0.949 |
One skill away
Among the 50 occupations most similar to Waiters and Waitresses, those at the same Job Zone or lower, where exactly one skill rated at least 3 in importance needs a level more than 0.75 points higher (on O*NET's 0-7 level scale). Our definition. Change the thresholds.
| Occupation | Skill to build | Level gap | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Caretakers | Reading Comprehension | 0.76 | 0.950 |
| Postal Service Clerks | Reading Comprehension | 1.00 | 0.942 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | Reading Comprehension | 0.76 | 0.936 |
| Pharmacy Aides | Reading Comprehension | 1.13 | 0.928 |
| Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners | Mathematics | 0.87 | 0.917 |
| Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers | Reading Comprehension | 0.88 | 0.917 |
| Personal Care Aides | Service Orientation | 0.88 | 0.913 |
| Cooks, Short Order | Time Management | 1.00 | 0.911 |
Software to learn next
Software used by at least 3 of the 20 occupations most similar to Waiters and Waitresses, excluding software Waiters and Waitresses already lists and any you named. Ranked by how many of them use it, weighted by how much more common it is among them than across all occupations (lift). Our ranking.
| Software | Similar jobs using it | Lift |
|---|---|---|
| RestaurantPlus PRO | 3 of 20 | 34.6x |
| Plexis Software Plexis POS | 3 of 20 | 19.8x |
| Microsoft Windows | 10 of 20 | 1.9x |
| Eko | 3 of 20 | 4.2x |
| Inventory tracking software | 3 of 20 | 3.1x |
| Email software | 4 of 20 | 0.7x |
| Microsoft Excel | 16 of 20 | 0.9x |
| Microsoft Office software | 15 of 20 | 0.8x |
| Microsoft Outlook | 11 of 20 | 0.8x |
| Web browser software | 4 of 20 | 0.4x |
Skills
From O*NET data. Importance is rated 1 to 5 and level 0 to 7.
| Skill | Type | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Orientation | Transferable skill | 3.88 | 3.00 |
| Speaking | Essential skill | 3.50 | 2.62 |
| Active Listening | Essential skill | 3.50 | 2.50 |
| Social Perceptiveness | Transferable skill | 3.38 | 2.50 |
| Coordination | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 2.62 |
| Monitoring | Essential skill | 3.00 | 2.62 |
| Critical Thinking | Essential skill | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Persuasion | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 2.38 |
| Reading Comprehension | Essential skill | 2.75 | 2.12 |
| Time Management | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 2.12 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 2.00 |
| Complex Problem Solving | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.00 |
| Active Learning | Essential skill | 2.50 | 2.25 |
| Quality Control Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.25 | 1.38 |
| Negotiation | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Writing | Essential skill | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Instructing | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 1.88 |
| Mathematics | Essential skill | 2.12 | 1.88 |
| Learning Strategies | Essential skill | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Systems Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.50 |
| Systems Evaluation | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.38 |
| Operations Monitoring | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.12 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.62 |
| Management of Material Resources | Transferable skill | 1.75 | 0.75 |
| Troubleshooting | Transferable skill | 1.75 | 0.75 |
| Management of Financial Resources | Transferable skill | 1.62 | 0.62 |
| Operation and Control | Transferable skill | 1.38 | 0.38 |
| Programming | Transferable skill | 1.12 | not rated |
| Equipment Maintenance | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
| Equipment Selection | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
| Installation | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
| Operations Analysis | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
| Repairing | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
| Science | Essential skill | 1.00 | not rated |
| Technology Design | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
Knowledge (33) and abilities (52)
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.94 | 4.11 |
| English Language | 3.62 | 3.08 |
| Sales and Marketing | 3.27 | 2.80 |
| Food Production | 2.62 | 2.20 |
| Mathematics | 2.61 | 2.09 |
| Administration and Management | 2.51 | 1.93 |
| Psychology | 2.43 | 2.53 |
| Education and Training | 2.41 | 2.30 |
| Computers and Electronics | 2.38 | 2.73 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 2.34 | 1.24 |
| Telecommunications | 2.27 | 0.56 |
| Communications and Media | 2.12 | 1.79 |
| Public Safety and Security | 2.12 | 1.35 |
| Economics and Accounting | 2.06 | 1.38 |
| Administrative | 2.05 | 1.62 |
| Law and Government | 1.83 | 1.01 |
| Personnel and Human Resources | 1.82 | 1.39 |
| Production and Processing | 1.81 | 1.56 |
| Engineering and Technology | 1.64 | 1.07 |
| Chemistry | 1.61 | 1.14 |
| Transportation | 1.61 | 0.82 |
| Mechanical | 1.59 | 1.09 |
| Foreign Language | 1.52 | 0.81 |
| Physics | 1.39 | not rated |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 1.38 | not rated |
| Design | 1.37 | not rated |
| Geography | 1.31 | 0.41 |
| Therapy and Counseling | 1.19 | not rated |
| Building and Construction | 1.16 | not rated |
| Biology | 1.13 | not rated |
| Fine Arts | 1.13 | not rated |
| Philosophy and Theology | 1.11 | not rated |
| History and Archeology | 1.02 | not rated |
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Oral Comprehension | 3.88 | 3.00 |
| Oral Expression | 3.75 | 3.25 |
| Speech Recognition | 3.75 | 3.12 |
| Speech Clarity | 3.75 | 3.00 |
| Trunk Strength | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Stamina | 3.25 | 2.75 |
| Time Sharing | 3.25 | 2.75 |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Near Vision | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Manual Dexterity | 3.00 | 2.75 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.00 | 2.38 |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.00 | 2.38 |
| Information Ordering | 3.00 | 2.25 |
| Written Comprehension | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Gross Body Coordination | 2.88 | 2.75 |
| Selective Attention | 2.88 | 2.38 |
| Finger Dexterity | 2.88 | 2.25 |
| Extent Flexibility | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Far Vision | 2.75 | 2.25 |
| Static Strength | 2.75 | 2.25 |
| Inductive Reasoning | 2.75 | 2.00 |
| Memorization | 2.62 | 2.62 |
| Auditory Attention | 2.62 | 2.38 |
| Category Flexibility | 2.62 | 2.12 |
| Written Expression | 2.62 | 2.12 |
| Multilimb Coordination | 2.50 | 2.25 |
| Dynamic Strength | 2.50 | 2.12 |
| Visual Color Discrimination | 2.25 | 2.25 |
| Flexibility of Closure | 2.25 | 2.00 |
| Visualization | 2.25 | 1.75 |
| Fluency of Ideas | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Control Precision | 2.12 | 1.88 |
| Gross Body Equilibrium | 2.12 | 1.88 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 2.12 | 1.50 |
| Perceptual Speed | 2.00 | 2.12 |
| Hearing Sensitivity | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Speed of Closure | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Number Facility | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Originality | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Explosive Strength | 1.88 | 0.88 |
| Spatial Orientation | 1.75 | 0.88 |
| Depth Perception | 1.75 | 0.75 |
| Speed of Limb Movement | 1.62 | 0.62 |
| Reaction Time | 1.50 | 0.50 |
| Dynamic Flexibility | 1.38 | 0.50 |
| Peripheral Vision | 1.12 | not rated |
| Rate Control | 1.12 | not rated |
| Sound Localization | 1.12 | not rated |
| Wrist-Finger Speed | 1.12 | not rated |
| Glare Sensitivity | 1.00 | not rated |
| Night Vision | 1.00 | not rated |
| Response Orientation | 1.00 | not rated |
Software used
Examples from O*NET data. "Hot" and "in demand" are O*NET flags for technologies often listed in job postings.
- Facebook hot
- Blink
- Compris Advanced Manager's Workstation
- Compris software
- Hospitality Control Solutions Aloha Point-of-Sale
- Intuit QuickBooks Point of Sale
- MICROS Systems HSI Profits Series
- NCR Advanced Checkout Solution
- NCR NeighborhoodPOS
- The General Store
Where it concentrates
Metro areas ranked by BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of the area's jobs divided by its share of all US jobs. Above 1 means more concentrated than the nation. Metros employing fewer than 100 are left out.
| Metro area | Employment | Location quotient | Median annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | 6,390 | 2.99 | $17,350 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | 3,390 | 2.84 | $19,830 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | 6,610 | 2.60 | $37,550 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | 2,700 | 2.50 | $82,550 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 6,070 | 2.46 | $38,160 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | 3,120 | 2.45 | $27,080 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 4,430 | 2.43 | $37,370 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 2,210 | 2.27 | $37,080 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | 1,510 | 2.21 | $18,250 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 36,160 | 2.18 | $27,110 |