How to Write A Server Job Description That Covers All the Bases – On the Line | Toast POS

What is a Waitress, Waiter, or Server? 

A waitress, waiter, or server is a front-of-house restaurant employee who takes care of guests during the length of their visit, mainly by recording and fulfilling their food and drink orders.

The titles “waiter,” “waitress,” and “server” are used pretty interchangeably. “Waiter” typically refers to a restaurant server who is a man, while “waitress” typically refers to a restaurant server who is a woman. But we want to acknowledge that the terms “waiter” and “waitress” are outdated and don’t leave much room for gender inclusivity within a restaurant team. If you’re looking for a gender-neutral term that applies to this role, simply use “server” instead.

Restaurant servers are traditionally hourly, tipped-wage workers, meaning their income is sourced predominantly through gratuities (though they are paid a base wage that’s typically the state-mandated minimum wage rate for tipped-wage workers). Per the United States Bureau of Labor, “Tipped employees are those who customarily and regularly receive more than $30 a month in tips.” You can learn more using the U.S Department of Labor’s interactive chart, which guides you through your state’s mandated minimum wage rate for tipped-wage workers.