Waiters and waitresses
SOC Code: 35-3031
Waiters and waitresses carries a 45% AI exposure score (High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $33,760 and -0.7% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 2,329,700 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Waiters and waitresses (SOC 35-3031) carries an AI exposure score of 45%, placing it in the High automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score in the 40–70% range indicates meaningful automation pressure on specific task categories, but the role as a whole still requires human judgment for coordination, exception handling, or client interaction.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 2,329,700 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a -0.7% change through 2034 — a decline that often compounds with high AI exposure to create displacement headwinds. Median annual compensation stands at $33,760, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires No formal educational credential, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Waiters and waitresses. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Collect payments from customers.
- 2. Check patrons' identification to ensure that they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages.
- 3. Write patrons' food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff.
- 4. Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals, and take action to correct any problems.
- 5. Take orders from patrons for food or beverages.
- 6. Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes.
- 7. Remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters, and take them to kitchen for cleaning.
- 8. Clean tables or counters after patrons have finished dining.
- 9. Serve food or beverages to patrons, and prepare or serve specialty dishes at tables as required.
- 10. Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping and mopping floors, vacuuming carpet, tidying up server station, taking out trash, or checking and cleaning bathroom.
Key Skills Required
- Service Orientation
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Coordination
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Persuasion
- Judgment and Decision Making
Knowledge Areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Sales and Marketing
- Food Production
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
- Psychology
- Education and Training
- Computers and Electronics
- Sociology and Anthropology
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Waiters and waitresses?
Waiters and waitresses has an AI exposure score of 45%, indicating a high level of automation risk. Some tasks in this role can be augmented or partially automated by AI, but core responsibilities require human judgment.
What is the job outlook for Waiters and waitresses?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Waiters and waitresses is projected to decline by 0.7% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 2,329,700 workers.
What skills are needed for Waiters and waitresses?
Key skills for Waiters and waitresses include Service Orientation, Active Listening, Speaking, and others. Typical entry-level education is No formal educational credential.
How much do Waiters and waitresses earn?
The median annual wage for Waiters and waitresses is $33,760, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Waiters and waitresses?
The typical entry-level education for Waiters and waitresses is No formal educational credential. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Short-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Waiters and waitresses?
Waiters and waitresses roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
High automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. A moderate share of tasks may be augmented by AI tools.
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).