As of June 2026, Waiters and Waitresses has an AI-exposure score of 41/100 (Moderate exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.

AI Exposure Score for

Waiters and Waitresses

41/100
Moderate exposure
LowModerateElevatedHighVery High

More exposed than 11% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$35,230. About 456,700 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).

Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.

Where are you in your career? (optional — tailors the context)

How you compare to similar Food Service roles

Waiters and Waitresses (you)
41
Cooks, Private Household
41
Food Preparation Workers
41
Bartenders
41
Cooks, Restaurant
42
Cooks, Short Order
43
Know someone whose job is changing? Share your score.
Post Share Score card
Every share sends them to their own free scan.
Create a free account to follow this role and get weekly AI-safe matches.

Your tasks, by AI exposure

Automatable

No automatable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as augmentable (50%).

Augmentable
  • Check patrons' identification to ensure that they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages.
  • Write patrons' food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff.
  • Assist host or hostess by answering phones to take reservations or to-go orders, and by greeting, seating, and thanking guests.
  • Escort customers to their tables.
  • Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals, and take action to correct any problems.
  • Present menus to patrons and answer questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request.
  • Explain how various menu items are prepared, describing ingredients and cooking methods.
  • Inform customers of daily specials.
  • Collect payments from customers.
  • Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes.
Durable
  • Remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters, and take them to kitchen for cleaning.
  • Serve food or beverages to patrons, and prepare or serve specialty dishes at tables as required.
  • Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping and mopping floors, vacuuming carpet, tidying up server station, taking out trash, or checking and cleaning bathroom.
  • Prepare tables for meals, including setting up items such as linens, silverware, and glassware.
  • Stock service areas with supplies such as coffee, food, tableware, and linens.
  • Roll silverware, set up food stations, or set up dining areas to prepare for the next shift or for large parties.
  • Prepare hot, cold, and mixed drinks for patrons, and chill bottles of wine.
  • Take orders from patrons for food or beverages.
  • Clean tables or counters after patrons have finished dining.
  • Bring wine selections to tables with appropriate glasses, and pour the wines for customers.

Safer adjacent roles

Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
80% skills overlap · Low exposure · ~US$33,980
35
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
72% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$31,200
47
Fast Food and Counter Workers
64% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$31,200
48
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
56% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$35,360
47
Bartenders
48% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$34,340
41
Baristas
40% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$31,200
47
Cooks, Short Order
40% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$35,880
43
Food Preparation Workers
40% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$35,320
41

Your AI-Safe Career Report

Every task scored with what to do about it · 5–10 safer roles with salary, demand & reachability · skill-gap map · a 30/60/90-day roadmap · plus a résumé & LinkedIn rewrite · PDF.
Grounded in O*NET + the Anthropic Economic Index + BLS — personalized to your role.

Workers with AI skills earn a roughly 62% wage premium — adapting pays. — PwC Global AI Jobs Barometer, 2026

Personalize it: paste your résumé & LinkedIn (optional) — your rewrite is included in the report
Used only to generate your report. You can delete it anytime via delete my data.
Personalize my plan (optional, 20 sec — tailors your safer roles & recommendation)
14-day money-back guarantee One-time · kept forever · no subscription

Instant delivery — your personalized report is ready about a minute after checkout.

Get ahead: a rising skill on this path is Service Orientation. Explore courses →
Some course links are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Important: This is an estimate of AI exposure, not a prediction that your job will disappear. It is designed to help you understand how your role may change and improve your career resilience.

Scan your own job

Waiters and Waitresses — median pay by US state (BLS OEWS, USD)

New York: US$47,020California: US$36,080Texas: US$23,240

Median annual wage, in USD. US national: US$35,230. More states are being added.

More Food Service roles

Chefs and Head Cooks First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers Cooks, Fast Food Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Cooks, Private Household Cooks, Restaurant