USA Career Guide- Food and Beverage Serving or Related Workers
Education needed to be Food and Beverage Serving or Related Workers
Most food and beverage service jobs are entry level and require a high school diploma or less. Generally, training is received on the job; however, those who wish to work at more upscale restaurants, where income from tips is greater and service standards are higher, may need previous experience or vocational training. The majority of workers receive short-term on-the-job training.
Training
All new employees receive some training from their employer.
Fast-food restaurants, teach new workers using self-study programs, online programs, audiovisual presentations, or instructional booklets that explain food preparation and service skills.
Full-service restaurants also provide new dining room employees with classroom training that alternates with periods of on-the-job work experience.
Pay of Food and Beverage Serving or Related Workers
As reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor the median hourly wage for food and beverage serving and related workers was $8.72 in May 2010. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $7.54 per hour, and the top 10 percent earned more than $11.62 per hour.
Median hourly wages for food and beverage serving and related workers (May 2010)
$9.34 for food servers, non-restaurant
$8.87 for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
$8.83 for counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop
$8.75 for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
$8.63 for combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food
$9.61 for food preparation and serving related workers, all other
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13
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Job Prospects of Food and Beverage Serving or Related Workers
Job opportunities should be excellent for food and beverage serving and related workers as turnover is generally very high among these workers, but job competition is often keen for jobs at upscale restaurants .Overall employment of food and beverage serving and related workers is projected to grow 12 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations as projected by BLS. Employment growth will vary by specialty.
Excellent customer-service skills and workers with related work experience should have the best job opportunities at upscale restaurants. There is keen competition for those seeking positions at places that have potential earnings from tips are greatest, so the number of job applicants often exceeds the number of job openings.
Industrial Overview of Food and Beverage Serving or Related Workers
Food and beverage serving and related workers held about 4.1 million jobs in 2010.
The industries that employed the most workers in 2010 were as follows:
Limited-service eating places 55%
Full-service restaurants 16%
Special food services 4%
Elementary and secondary schools 4%
Grocery stores 3%
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition,
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