Career Overview
Serve food to individuals outside of a restaurant environment, such as in hotel rooms, hospital rooms, residential care facilities, or cars.
Also Known As
- Food Service Worker
- Room Server
- Room Service Server
- Tray Server
Alternate Job Titles
- Boat Hop
- Car Attendant
- Car Hop
- Curb Attendant
- Curb Hop
- Curber
- Dining Room Server
- Food and Beverage Server
- Food Cart Attendant
- Food Order Delivery Runner
- Food Porter
- Food Runner
- Food Server
- Food Service Attendant
- Food Service Hotel Runner
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Near Vision
- Selective Attention
- Speech Recognition
- Speech Clarity
- Problem Sensitivity
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Inductive Reasoning
- Information Ordering
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Cooperation
- Attention to Detail
- Social Orientation
- Empathy
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Support
- Working Conditions
- Independence
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Windows
Tools & Equipment
- 10-key calculators
- Blenders
- Carbonated beverage dispensers
- Carving knives
- Chefs' knives
- Commercial coffeemakers
- Commercial dishwashers
- Commercial glasswashers
- Desktop computers
- Ice-making machines
- Juice dispensers
- Personal computers
- Point of sale POS computer terminals
- Slicing machines
- Steam tables
Work Environment
- Spend Time Standing
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Spend Time Walking or Running
- Time Pressure
- Physical Proximity
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $26,590 |
| Median | $34,460 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $44,770 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 271,780
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $32,670
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $30,480
Waiters and Waitresses
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $33,760
Food Preparation Workers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $34,220
Dishwashers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $33,670
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.