An official website of the United States government

The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Bureau of Labor Statistics > Occupational Requirements Survey > Publications > Factsheets

Waiters and waitresses

Waitress carrying tray with two plates of food Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.

For terms and definitions in this profile, see definitions of major terms.

Cognitive and mental requirements

The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make decisions, interact with others, and adapt to changes in jobs.

In 2025, more than basic people skills were required for 20.0 percent of waiters and waitresses. Basic people skills were required for 80.0 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of waiters and waitresses with cognitive and mental requirements, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Work schedule varies	90.3	9.7
Ability to pause work (and take brief unscheduled breaks)	18.9	81.1
Working around crowds	5.3	94.7
Telework routinely allowed	<0.5	>99.5
Supervising others	1.3	98.7
Supervisor present in immediate work area	96.2	3.8
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Education, training, and experience requirements

The minimum level of formal education required, credentials necessary, on-the-job training, and prior work experience necessary for average performance in jobs. The time associated with these requirements is combined to calculate the specific vocational preparation level needed for the job.

In 2025, prior work experience was required for 21.2 percent of waiters and waitresses and on-the-job training was required for 98.5 percent.

No minimum education was required for 80.3 percent of waiters and waitresses.

Environmental conditions

The various hazards or difficulties that are in the area where workers perform their critical tasks.

In 2025, a quiet noise exposure was present for less than 5 percent of waiters and waitresses. Another 95.3 percent were exposed to moderate noise, 4.0 percent were exposed to loud noise, and less than 0.5 percent to very loud noise. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was used by less than 0.5 percent of workers to mitigate noise exposure and was not used by greater than 99.5 percent.

Physical demands

The physical activities required to perform tasks in jobs. The presence and, in some cases, duration of these activities are published.

In 2025, speaking was required for greater than 99.5 percent of waiters and waitresses and was not required for less than 0.5 percent. For less than 0.5 percent of workers, speaking was seldom required, for 33.6 percent speaking was occasionally required, for 64.7 percent speaking was frequently required, and for less than 5 percent speaking was required constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required for 70.1 percent of waiters and waitresses and was not required for 29.9 percent.

On average, waiters and waitresses spent 1.4 percent of the workday sitting and 98.6 percent of the workday standing.

Table 2. Percentage of waiters and waitresses with physical demands, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Ability to choose to sit or stand for tasks	<0.5	>99.5
Driving	<0.5	>99.5
Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs	11.2	88.8
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey