Pros and Cons of Being a Waitress/Waiter

Waitress Job Pros and Cons: 3 Key Takeaways

• Waitstaff earn an average base salary of $36,530/year in the U.S., with tips often adding significantly more.
• Servers develop top-tier soft skills, including multitasking and conflict resolution, which are highly transferable to careers in management.
• Entry-level access and upward mobility make serving a strong career launchpad, with many advancing into roles like Restaurant Manager.

If you're exploring a career in hospitality, understanding the waitress job pros and cons is essential. 

From tip-based income to unpredictable schedules, this guide breaks down what it's really like to work as a Server in 2025—so you can decide if the role is right for you.

Overview of Waitstaff Job Pros and Cons

Below is a table showing the main pros and cons of being a Waitress/Waiter that we’ll talk about in the next sections.

Keep in mind that these are all subjective, so whether you find something an advantage or disadvantage might depend on the type of person you are.

Editor's note: The terms Waiter/Waitress and Server are used interchangeably throughout this article. 

Pros of Being a Waitress/Waiter

There are a few notable advantages to being a Waitress/Waiter. You can make decent money from the get-go. 

You don't need any special training or formal education to start waiting tables. Let's get into more detail.

Potential to earn good money

While waitstaff typically don't make a lot from wages, tipping culture in the United States allows them to earn good money. 

For context, the average base salary for a Waiter/Waitress in the United States is $36,530 plus tips. 

This translates to an hourly wage of $17.56 before tips.

Tips are a big portion of their overall earnings, sometimes exceeding their base wages. 

In most places, the customary tip for waitstaff ranges between 15% and 20% of the total bill, though this percentage can fluctuate based on several key factors.

• Location: Urban areas tend to have higher tipping percentages, whereas more rural areas may see lower gratuities. 
   
• Type of establishment: Fine-dining restaurants generally produce higher tips than casual diners, cafes, or chain restaurants. 
   
• Customer behavior: The generosity of customers can vary based on demographics, cultural norms and personal experiences. 
   
• Time of shift: Evening and weekend shifts, particularly in busy restaurants, often bring in higher tips than daytime or weekday shifts. 
   
• Group size and bill total: Serving large parties or high-spending customers can lead to substantial tips, especially if gratuity is included for groups. 

Pro tip: Find out the top restaurants in the U.S. where waitstaff can likely earn more.

Honing people skills through social interactions

If you're a social person, getting to meet new people daily can be a huge advantage to serving. 

You'll get to interact with people from all walks of life, hear interesting stories and form long-lasting personal and professional relationships. 

Beyond just taking orders and delivering food, you’ll engage in conversations, handle special requests and provide memorable dining experiences.

These daily interactions help build strong communication skills, adaptability and emotional intelligence — all of which are essential soft skills.

Not to mention, the experience can make you mentally stronger and improve your ability to navigate challenging social situations. 

You’ll learn how to anticipate customers’ needs, manage difficult people and prevent misunderstandings from escalating into conflict.

Networking opportunities

Being a Waiter or Waitress also allows you to form connections that can benefit your career in the long run. 

Whether it’s regular customers, your colleagues or other industry professionals, the relationships you build as a waitstaff member can open doors to future opportunities.

Some may even provide valuable job leads or referrals, especially in cities where the restaurant industry is tight-knit.

Developing patience and multitasking skills

You probably already know that this role entails juggling multiple responsibilities at once, often in a fast-paced and high-pressure environment. 

From taking orders and delivering food to handling special requests and resolving customer concerns, restaurant serving demands strong multitasking abilities.

Patience and multitasking are essential skills developed as a Server. 

Handling difficult customers, delays, and unexpected challenges teaches you to stay calm under pressure—an asset in any customer-facing role. 

At the same time, juggling orders, refills, and table checks sharpens your ability to multitask and prioritize. 

These transferable skills stand out in job applications, whether you stay in hospitality or move into another industry.

Free or discounted meals

In most restaurants, waitstaff get a free meal once per day, or at least access to food at discounted rates. 

Some restaurants even allow waitstaff to take food home after their shift is over. This allows them to save a significant amount of money.

Consistent daily schedule

Unless you have to deal with some unforeseen circumstances, your daily schedule will be rather consistent. 

You'll have a set of daily duties you'll have to carry out. Knowing what to expect during your shift can help reduce anxiety.

Lots of employment opportunities

The restaurant industry is thriving. There will always be jobs for eager applicants willing to work as a Server. 

This means that not only will you always be able to find employment, but you'll also be able to choose between multiple restaurants when applying or switching jobs.

Career advancement in the hospitality industry

Starting as a Waiter or Waitress can be a stepping stone to a long-term career in the hospitality industry. 

Many restaurant professionals began their careers as Servers, using their experience to move up the ranks.

As a Server, you gain essential skills in customer service, multitasking and teamwork, which are all highly valued in leadership roles. 

With experience and dedication, you can transition into higher-paying positions such as Restaurant Manager. 

Some Servers even pursue career paths as such as Executive Chef, Sommelier or Director of Restaurant Operations.

Beyond restaurant management, your experience can open doors to related fields like catering, events, hotel operations or even owning your own restaurant one day. 

That said, if you're considering a long-term future in the industry, look for opportunities to take on more responsibilities, learn from mentorsand develop leadership skills that will set you apart.

Cons of Working as a Waitress/Waiter

We've discussed some of the good in the previous section. Now, let's discuss some of the bad.

Working as a Waiter/Waitress might not be for you if you’re not very sociable. 

Difficult customers, unpleasant co-workers and long, late shifts are common occurrences on the job.

Inconsistent earnings and financial uncertainty

Tip-based income can be lucrative, but it’s often unpredictable. 

Busy shifts—like Friday nights—can bring in great tips, while slow periods or off-season lulls can significantly reduce earnings. 

Newer staff may also get fewer high-paying shifts, making consistent financial planning a challenge.

Additionally, tip pooling can further impact take-home earnings. 

While this practice can help balance pay disparities among staff, it may also reduce an individual’s overall earnings, especially if they serve high-spending customers.

Tax complications of tipped income

In relation to the previous section, tips also happen to be taxable income that employees are required to report. 

Because a significant portion of tips are received in cash, keeping track of these can be challenging.

Some workers underestimate their taxes, leading to potential financial surprises come tax season. 

That said, here are some key points to take note of:

• The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires tipped employees to report all tips totaling $20 or more per month to their employer for tax withholding.
• Tips are subject to federal and state income tax, Social Security and Medicare taxes — just like regular wages.
• Failure to accurately report tip income can result in IRS penalties or back taxes owed.

Pro tip: Many waitstaff use tip-tracking apps or logs to ensure they report their earnings correctly and avoid unexpected tax liabilities.

Working on weekends and holidays

Most people get to spend their holidays and weekends however they choose. Many of them like to visit restaurants and bars.

Waitstaff don't have the luxury of enjoying time off on weekends and holidays. 

In fact, they typically have to work busy shifts during weekends and holidays. This makes it hard to keep a good work-life balance.

On the bright side, you can make extra money working weekends or holidays.

Dealing with difficult customers

Difficult customers can make serving one of the most stressful jobs there is. 

This is especially true if you're working in an establishment that mainly serves alcohol.

For this reason, many establishments require employees to have Responsible Alcohol Service training. 

This program teaches how to responsibly serve alcohol and how to deal with difficult customers by de-escalating the situation.

Physically demanding

Waitstaff endure long hours on their feet, constant movement, and physically demanding tasks like lifting trays and clearing tables. 

This fast-paced, repetitive work can lead to muscle soreness, joint pain, and long-term strain. 

While stamina builds over time, proper footwear, stretching, and hydration are essential to avoid burnout.

Not a lot of extra benefits

Many restaurants don't provide many other extra benefits to Servers. 

You get an hourly wage, tips from customers and perhaps discounts on meals. That's it.

In most cases, you'll have to pay for your own health and dental insurance. Many restaurants don't even offer sick leave and paid time off.

All of this can make it quite difficult to take a break when needed or visit a hospital when you know it’s coming out of your own pocket.

Conclusion: Is Being a Waiter/Waitress Worth It?

The pros and cons of being a Waitress/Waiter that we've talked about aren't set in stone. 

As mentioned, some of these vary based on location and establishment.

Not all restaurants are the same. Some restaurants offer many benefits, including sick days, dental, health insurance and more.

At the end of the day, if you enjoy interacting with people and don't mind working irregular hours, then being a Server might be your calling.

It's a profession that doesn't require any formal education. 

With enough time and experience, you can move to other jobs in the hospitality industry. 

For instance, you can work as a Barback, then advance to a Bartending position or start working as a Host/Hostess.