How to become a waiter and waitresses
Official title: Waiters and waitresses
Also called: Waiter, Ward waiter, Wine waiter, Restaurant waiter, Silver service waiter, Tea maid, Saloon boy, Wine butler, Food runner, Shift runner, Mess steward, Ship steward
Waiters and waitresses serve food and beverages in hotels, clubs, restaurants public houses and other establishments.
Main tasks
- Sets tables with clean linen, cutlery, crockery and glassware
- Presents menus and wine lists to patrons and may describe dishes and advise on selection of food or wines
- Takes down orders for food and/or drinks and passes order to kitchen and/or bar
- Serves food and drinks
- Presents bill and accepts payment at end of the meal
How to become one
There are no formal academic entry requirements, though some employers may require GCSEs/S grades. Training is typically provided on-the-job. NVQs/SVQs in relevant areas are available at levels 1 and 2.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £22,936 a year The middle half earn £18,363 to £27,395.
- About 305,400 people work in this job now, and about 294,100 are projected by 2035. (-3.7%)
Related jobs
- Bar and catering supervisors
- Hospital porters
- Kitchen and catering assistants
- Bar staff
- Coffee shop workers
- Leisure and theme park attendants
Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz
Questions people ask
How do I become a waiter and waitresses?
There are no formal academic entry requirements, though some employers may require GCSEs/S grades. Training is typically provided on-the-job. NVQs/SVQs in relevant areas are available at levels 1 and 2.
How much does a waiter and waitresses earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £22,936 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £18,363 to £27,395.
Is a waiter and waitresses a growing career in the UK?
Employment is projected to fall 4% by 2035, from about 305,400 to about 294,100 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a waiter and waitresses?
Usually not. Only 20% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03