Waiters and Waitresses
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 35-3031.00
Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Moderate· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.28
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only25 rated tasks · 7 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (28.0%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
| Task (O*NET 20.1) | Claude.aiRaw / share % |
|---|---|
Describe and recommend wines to customers.35-3031.00 | 0.018557.8 |
Explain how various menu items are prepared, describing ingredients and cooking methods.35-3031.00 | 0.005918.4 |
Provide guests with information about local areas, including giving directions.35-3031.00 | 0.005818.1 |
Present menus to patrons and answer questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request.35-3031.00 | 0.00185.6 |
| Not observed on any surface — 21 task(s) — These tasks have no row in the source for this release. The 0 in the share row is a display-stage composition ratio; absence is what the — in the raw row states. | |
Check patrons' identification to ensure that they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages. | —0 |
Collect payments from customers. | —0 |
Write patrons' food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff. | —0 |
Take orders from patrons for food or beverages. | —0 |
Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals and take action to correct any problems. | —0 |
Serve food or beverages to patrons, and prepare or serve specialty dishes at tables as required. | —0 |
Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes. | —0 |
Inform customers of daily specials. | —0 |
Clean tables or counters after patrons have finished dining. | —0 |
Prepare hot, cold, and mixed drinks for patrons, and chill bottles of wine. | —0 |
Prepare tables for meals, including setting up items such as linens, silverware, and glassware. | —0 |
Perform food preparation duties such as preparing salads, appetizers, and cold dishes, portioning desserts, and brewing coffee. | —0 |
Stock service areas with supplies such as coffee, food, tableware, and linens. | —0 |
Garnish and decorate dishes in preparation for serving. | —0 |
Fill salt, pepper, sugar, cream, condiment, and napkin containers. | —0 |
Escort customers to their tables. | —0 |
Bring wine selections to tables with appropriate glasses, and pour the wines for customers. | —0 |
Roll silverware, set up food stations or set up dining areas to prepare for the next shift or for large parties. | —0 |
Remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters, take them to kitchen for cleaning. | —0 |
Assist host or hostess by answering phones to take reservations or to-go orders, and by greeting, seating, and thanking guests. | —0 |
Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping and mopping floors, vacuuming carpet, tidying up server station, taking out trash, or checking and cleaning bathroom. | —0 |
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Write patrons' food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff.O*NET Task ID 2277 | 1.0 |
Explain how various menu items are prepared, describing ingredients and cooking methods.O*NET Task ID 2287 | 1.0 |
Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes.O*NET Task ID 2281 | 0.5 |
Present menus to patrons and answer questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request.O*NET Task ID 2283 | 0.5 |
Inform customers of daily specials.O*NET Task ID 2284 | 0.5 |
Describe and recommend wines to customers.O*NET Task ID 2294 | 0.5 |
Provide guests with information about local areas, including directions.O*NET Task ID 18748 | 0.5 |
Check patrons' identification to ensure that they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages.O*NET Task ID 2275 | 0.0 |
Collect payments from customers.O*NET Task ID 2276 | 0.0 |
Take orders from patrons for food or beverages.O*NET Task ID 2278 | 0.0 |
Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals, and take action to correct any problems.O*NET Task ID 2279 | 0.0 |
Serve food or beverages to patrons, and prepare or serve specialty dishes at tables as required.O*NET Task ID 2280 | 0.0 |
Clean tables or counters after patrons have finished dining.O*NET Task ID 2285 | 0.0 |
Prepare hot, cold, and mixed drinks for patrons, and chill bottles of wine.O*NET Task ID 2286 | 0.0 |
Prepare tables for meals, including setting up items such as linens, silverware, and glassware.O*NET Task ID 2288 | 0.0 |
Perform food preparation duties, such as preparing salads, appetizers, and cold dishes, portioning desserts, and brewing coffee.O*NET Task ID 2289 | 0.0 |
Stock service areas with supplies such as coffee, food, tableware, and linens.O*NET Task ID 2290 | 0.0 |
Garnish and decorate dishes in preparation for serving.O*NET Task ID 2291 | 0.0 |
Fill salt, pepper, sugar, cream, condiment, and napkin containers.O*NET Task ID 2292 | 0.0 |
Escort customers to their tables.O*NET Task ID 2293 | 0.0 |
Bring wine selections to tables with appropriate glasses, and pour the wines for customers.O*NET Task ID 2295 | 0.0 |
Roll silverware, set up food stations, or set up dining areas to prepare for the next shift or for large parties.O*NET Task ID 18744 | 0.0 |
Remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters, and take them to kitchen for cleaning.O*NET Task ID 18745 | 0.0 |
Assist host or hostess by answering phones to take reservations or to-go orders, and by greeting, seating, and thanking guests.O*NET Task ID 18746 | 0.0 |
Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping and mopping floors, vacuuming carpet, tidying up server station, taking out trash, or checking and cleaning bathroom.O*NET Task ID 18747 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (25)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Check patrons' identification to ensure that they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages. | Core |
| Collect payments from customers. | Core |
| Write patrons' food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff. | Core |
| Take orders from patrons for food or beverages. | Core |
| Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals, and take action to correct any problems. | Core |
| Serve food or beverages to patrons, and prepare or serve specialty dishes at tables as required. | Core |
| Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes. | Core |
| Present menus to patrons and answer questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request. | Core |
| Inform customers of daily specials. | Core |
| Clean tables or counters after patrons have finished dining. | Core |
| Prepare hot, cold, and mixed drinks for patrons, and chill bottles of wine. | Core |
| Explain how various menu items are prepared, describing ingredients and cooking methods. | Core |
| Prepare tables for meals, including setting up items such as linens, silverware, and glassware. | Core |
| Perform food preparation duties, such as preparing salads, appetizers, and cold dishes, portioning desserts, and brewing coffee. | Core |
| Stock service areas with supplies such as coffee, food, tableware, and linens. | Core |
| Fill salt, pepper, sugar, cream, condiment, and napkin containers. | Core |
| Escort customers to their tables. | Core |
| Roll silverware, set up food stations, or set up dining areas to prepare for the next shift or for large parties. | Core |
| Remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters, and take them to kitchen for cleaning. | Core |
| Assist host or hostess by answering phones to take reservations or to-go orders, and by greeting, seating, and thanking guests. | Core |
| Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping and mopping floors, vacuuming carpet, tidying up server station, taking out trash, or checking and cleaning bathroom. | Core |
| Provide guests with information about local areas, including directions. | Core |
| Garnish and decorate dishes in preparation for serving. | Supplemental |
| Describe and recommend wines to customers. | Supplemental |
| Bring wine selections to tables with appropriate glasses, and pour the wines for customers. | Supplemental |
0.62/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Collect payments from customers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Serve food or beverages to patrons, and prepare or serve specialty dishes at tables as required. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clean tables or counters after patrons have finished dining. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Prepare hot, cold, and mixed drinks for patrons, and chill bottles of wine. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Prepare tables for meals, including setting up items such as linens, silverware, and glassware. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Perform food preparation duties, such as preparing salads, appetizers, and cold dishes, portioning desserts, and brewing coffee. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Stock service areas with supplies such as coffee, food, tableware, and linens. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Fill salt, pepper, sugar, cream, condiment, and napkin containers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Escort customers to their tables. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Bring wine selections to tables with appropriate glasses, and pour the wines for customers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Roll silverware, set up food stations, or set up dining areas to prepare for the next shift or for large parties. | E0 none |
| Remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters, and take them to kitchen for cleaning. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Assist host or hostess by answering phones to take reservations or to-go orders, and by greeting, seating, and thanking guests. | E2 structured facilities |
| Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping and mopping floors, vacuuming carpet, tidying up server station, taking out trash, or checking and cleaning bathroom. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Garnish and decorate dishes in preparation for serving. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 2.3M
- Projected employment, 2035
- 2.3M
- Change (2025–35)
- +2%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $35,230
- Typical education needed for entry
- No formal educational credential
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45311 | 음식 서비스 종사원 | Same scope | confirmed |
| 45312 | 음료 서비스 종사원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 45313 | 주류 서비스 종사원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 5131Waiters
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
Waiters serve food and beverages at tables in dining and drinking places, clubs, institutions and canteens, on board ships and on passenger trains.
Tasks
- (a) setting tables with clean linen, cutlery, crockery and glassware;
- (b) greeting customers and presenting them with menus and beverage lists;
- (c) advising on food and beverage choices;
- (d) taking orders for food and drinks and passing order to kitchen or bar staff;
- (e) serving food and beverages to clients at tables;
- (f) clearing tables and returning dishes and cutlery to kitchen;
- (g) presenting bills, accepting payment and operating point of sales machines and cash registers.
Example occupations
Example of the occupations classified here: · Sommelier · Waiter
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- waiter/waitressESCO 5131.2Same scope
Waiters/waitresses supply guests with food and drinks as requested. Waiters/waitresses usually work in restaurants, bars and hotels. This involves the preparation of tables, serving food or beverages and taking payments.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| G1803 | Serveur / Serveuse en restauration | Same scopeprovisional |
| G1804 | Sommelier / Sommelière | Related, not a match |
| G1810 | Chef / Cheffe de rang | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 5120 | Camareros asalariados | This occupation is narrower |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 63302 | Berufe im Gastronomieservice (ohne Spezialisierung) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Same scopeprovisional |
| 63303 | Berufe im Gastronomieservice (ohne Spezialisierung) - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 63301 | Berufe im Gastronomieservice (ohne Spezialisierung) - Helfer-/Anlerntätigkeiten | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| 63383 | Berufe in der Gastronomie (sonstige spezifische Tätigkeitsangabe) - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 403 | 飲食物給仕従事者 | Same scopeprovisional |
| 405 | 接客社交従事者 | Related, not a match |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources