“Someday I am going to own my own catering business, so it just made sense to me to get a job as a waitress. I am learning what goes on in the kitchen, behind the scenes, and how to present food to customers, and the owners have even been nice enough to talk with me a little bit about hints and tips for owning my own business.
Don’t get me wrong, this job can be high-stress when we hit our peak hours, but that is also when you really see people thrive under pressure. And after you have done it awhile, it just becomes a habit to dig in and work as a team. If you have ever played Overcooked or a game like that – then you’d understand.”

Interested in this occupation? Download the job flyer here!

Job Description

SOC Code: 35-3031

Waiters and Waitresses take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in a
dining establishment.*

*Source: This information is based on O*NET™ data. O*NET is a trademark registered to the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.

Job Skills:

• Customer service
• Serving food
• Restaurant management
• Welcome patrons
• Cash handling

General Work Activities:

• Mental Processes
  • Schedule dining reservations
• Interacting With Others
  • Take customer orders
  • Communicate with customers to resolve complaints or ensure customer satisfaction
  • Process customer bills or payments
  • Communicate dining or order details to kitchen personnel
  • Present food or beverage information/menus to customers
  • Assist customers with seating arrangements
• Work Output
  • Enforce rules or regulations
  • Collect dirty dishes or other tableware
  • Serve food or beverages
  • Cook foods
  • Arrange tables or dining areas
  • Prepare hot or cold beverages
  • Clean food preparation areas, facilities, or equipment

*Source: This information is based on O*NET™ data. O*NET is a trademark registered to the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.

*All data is factual, but names, images, and quotations have been adapted to protect the identity of employees and businesses

Job Statistics

Examples of Workforce Areas with Job Openings

• Trident
• Waccamaw
• Greenville
• Midlands
• Catawba
• Lowcountry

Examples of Employers with Job Openings

• Eggs Up Grill
• Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc.
• Lizard's Thicket
• Concord Hospitality Enterprises
• Oak View Group
• Texas Roadhouse, Inc.

Related Occupations

• Bartenders
• Food Preparation Workers
• Fast Food and Counter Workers
• Baristas
• Hosts and Hostesses
• Food Service Managers

*Source: Online advertised jobs data

Learn More With SCWOS

SC Works Online Services (SCWOS) is the state’s largest job database and provides all of South Carolina's job postings from all major sites, including Monster and Career Builder, in one resource. SCWOS has thousands of positions listed by employers all over the state. To access SCWOS, visit jobs.scworks.org.

Find in-depth breakdowns of occupational statistics such as necessary job certifications, job skills and abilities, current job openings, overview of general work activities, and more by visiting O*NET.org.