Food and Beverage Serving Workers

How to become a Nonrestaurant Food Server

Official title: Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

Also called: Food Server, Food Service Worker, Kitchen Runner, Room Server, Room Service Server, Tray Server

Serve food to individuals outside of a restaurant environment, such as in hotel rooms, hospital rooms, residential care facilities, or cars.

Main tasks

Place food servings on plates or trays according to orders or instructions.
Clean or sterilize dishes, kitchen utensils, equipment, or facilities.
Monitor food distribution, ensuring that meals are delivered to the correct recipients and that guidelines, such as those for special diets, are followed.
Examine trays to ensure that they contain required items.
Load trays with accessories, such as eating utensils, napkins, or condiments.
Take food orders and relay orders to kitchens or serving counters so they can be filled.
Monitor food preparation or serving techniques to ensure that proper procedures are followed.
Remove trays and stack dishes for return to kitchen after meals are finished.

How to become one

Food and beverage serving and related workers typically have no requirements for formal education or work experience to enter the occupation. They learn their skills on the job.

Typical education to start: No formal educational credential

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $35,360 a year The middle half earn $31,190 to $38,500.
About 296,300 people work in this job now, and about 309,600 are projected by 2035. (+4.5%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Nonrestaurant Food Server?

Food and beverage serving and related workers typically have no requirements for formal education or work experience to enter the occupation. They learn their skills on the job.

How much does a Nonrestaurant Food Server earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $35,360 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $31,190 to $38,500.

Is a Nonrestaurant Food Server a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5% by 2035, from about 296,300 to about 309,600 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Nonrestaurant Food Server?

Usually not. Only 16% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Nonrestaurant Food Server?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.