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Waiter's/Waitress' Assistants (Dining Room Attendants) perform a variety of jobs to aid Waiters/Waitresses in food service and to keep dining areas clean.

JOB DUTIES

Waiter's/Waitress' Assistants may:

Clear dirty dishes, tableware, and glasses from tables

Take dirty dishes from the dining area to the kitchen

Sweep and mop floors and clean furniture and equipment

Maintain a supply of linens and table settings in dining area

Reset tables with clean linen, tableware, and glasses

Supply service bars with food such as salads and desserts

Make coffee and fill beverage and ice dispensers

Serve ice water, beverages, and butter to customers

Carry trays of food and drinks from kitchen to service stand

The tools and equipment used may include:

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

Waiter's/Waitress' Assistants may specialize in these areas:

312.687-010 BARTENDER HELPERS aid bartenders by mopping floors, cleaning equipment, and washing glasses. They may also stock and refrigerate bar supplies.

311.677-010 CAFETERIA ATTENDANTS carry trays from food counters to tables for cafeteria customers in addition to cleaning tables and carrying dirty dishes to the kitchen.

311.677-018 DINING ROOM ATTENDANTS circulate among diners to serve coffee or water, among other duties.

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following CEScripts:

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WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Waiter's/Waitress' Assistants generally work under the supervision of owners, managers, bartenders, or waiters and waitresses. Working conditions vary from pleasant, quiet, cool restaurants to hot, cramped, rushed places. They usually work indoors, although some establishments have patios and other outdoor dining areas. Job hazards include the possibility of minor falls, cuts, and burns. Vacation resorts offer seasonal employment.

Most Waiter's/Waitress' Assistants work less than 30 hours a week; some work only during lunch or dinner period rushes. Others may work both periods with time off in the middle of the day. Most employers provide uniforms when required. Typical dress standards require a white shirt or blouse, dark trousers or skirt, and dark tie or scarf. Waiter's/Waitress' Assistants may belong to The Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union. Those who belong to unions pay dues.

You Should Prefer:

• Activities of a routine, concrete, organized nature

You Should Be Able To:

• Deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions

• Have agreeable working relations with others

• Follow orders

• Coordinate use of your eyes/hands/fingers rapidly to perform a task

• Balance trays and dishes

• Be courteous

• Perform the same work over and over

• Maintain a clean and neat appearance

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

If you are assisting a waiter in serving a party of eleven and two customers would like soda pop, three customers would like tea, and the rest would like water, how many waters do you need to prepare?

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

Should be able to read and comprehend menu items.

For example, fresh fish brochette, petral sole calamari tempura, fresh sole dore', filet mignon, shrimp de Jonghe, medallion of veal forestiere.

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

Prepare an order form for cleaning supplies.

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

Should be detail oriented and demonstrate organizational skills in assisting with waiting processes.

It may be necessary to obtain a health certificate from local health departments to show that you are free from contagious diseases.

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EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES

NOTE: On-The-Job Training provided by the employer or a High School Diploma with specific Vocational Education Classes may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in the CEScript:

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1500 FOODS & NUTRITION

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

024 HOSPITALITY & FOOD SERVICE

Approved vocational education programs in Hospitality & Food Service prepare students to work in institutional, commercial, or self-owned food establishments or other food industry occupations. Instruction is given in planning, selecting, storing, purchasing, preparing, and serving quality food products. Special emphasis is placed on instruction in nutrition, safety and sanitation, special diets, and the use and care of food preparation equipment.

Courses in other home economics related programs may be required for completion of this program.

High school students should consult their guidance office for more information about the specific requirements of this program at their school or area vocational education center.

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

There are no Postsecondary Programs related to this CEScript  

Search for a College and/or Instructional Program   

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Apprenticeships related to this CEScript.

***MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS***

There are no Military Programs related to this CEScript.  

E-Learning Courses and Programs

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY

Summer or part-time jobs are often available. Secondary vocational education programs in food production and service may offer practical experience through a co-op portion. Volunteer work at charity dinners or institutions may be helpful also.

School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships

mentorships

job shadowing experiences

touring a local Waiter/Waitress Assistant employer

internships

volunteer work with a Waiter/Waitress Assistant employer

community service work with an agency

To find a job as a Waiter's/Waitress' Assistant, consult newspaper want ads or apply directly to local restaurants. Contact your high school or area skill center placement office, a local union, or local Michigan Works! office for assistance. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:

You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.

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EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

Earnings of Waiter's/Waitress' Assistants depend on the pay practices of the employer, the extent of unionization, and the amount of tip money, if any, shared with assistants by waiters and waitresses. Earnings are normally relatively low.

Nationally, many Waiter's/Waitress' Assistants are paid the federal and state minimum wage, which is $5.15 an hour. Some establishments not covered under minimum wage laws may pay hourly wages lower than the minimum wage. The median weekly earnings of all Waiter's/Waitress' Assistants were $340 ($8.50 per hour) in 2004.

The median weekly earnings of "all" workers in the U.S. were $638 ($15.95 per hour) in 2004.

The minimum hourly rates for unionized Waiter's/Waitress' Assistants working for major hotels and private clubs in the Detroit area in early 2004 were:

                                         *Training wage

Waiter's/Waitress' Assistants generally receive overtime pay for work in excess of 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week. In addition, assistants employed on the late shift may receive a higher rate of pay than those working the day or evening shift.

Waiter's/Waitress' Assistants usually receive free meals while on the job. Most also receive paid vacations. In addition, union members and some nonunion workers may receive paid holidays, health and life insurance, and pension plans.

Advancement opportunities for Waiter's/Waitress' Assistants are often limited to promotion to waiter/waitress. However, in larger establishments, promotional opportunities may be greater. Experience and ability to supervise are important for advancement.

The ability to read, write, and do simple arithmetic is required to advance to a waiter/waitress job.

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EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

Nationally, there were about 408,600 Waiter's/Waitress' Assistants employed in 2002. The employment outlook for Waiter's/Waitress' Assistants is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2012.

The industry distribution for Waiter's/Waitresses' Assistants looked like this:

The decline in consumption of alcoholic beverages may negatively affect the employment opportunities for bar porters. Further, some restaurants, particularly informal restaurants, are limiting the number of bus personnel hired and making their duties part of the responsibilities of the waitstaff.

A growing population, higher personal incomes, and more women in the work force create more business for restaurants. These factors may lead to additional jobs for Waiter's/Waitress' Assistants.

There are about 13,200 Waiter's/Waitress' Assistants employed in Michigan . Waiter's/Waitress' Assistants worked in a variety of places, such as restaurants, cocktail lounges, hotels, motels, colleges and universities, and hospitals. 

Employment of Waiter's/Waitress' Assistants in Michigan is expected to decline through the year 2010. An average of 450 openings is expected annually, due to replacement of those who retire or leave the labor force for other reasons. Additional openings will occur as workers change jobs or occupations.

The number of Waiter's/Waitress' Assistants is expected to grow. Additional job openings will occur due to turnover since many Waiter's/Waitress' Assistants are students who find other jobs after graduation.

MICHIGAN 'S EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2010

MSA designates a Metropolitan Statistical Area

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SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Printed Occupational information is available upon written request from the sources below.

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Copyright © 2005 Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth