Headline risk
17%
Moderate RiskWaiters and waitresses
AI displacement pressure score for United States AI Work Index, combining global AI task overlap with local wages, employment trends, and demand signals.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
Task evidence
100% weighted task match · 0% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 33,760
Employment 2024
2329.7K
Projected Change (2024–34)
-0.7%
Openings (2024–34)
456.7K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Employment of waiters and waitresses is projected to grow 1 percent from 2024 to 2034, decline.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Write patrons' food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff. AI use: 0%
- 2. Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals, and take action to correct any problems. AI use: 0%
- 3. Collect payments from customers. AI use: 0%
- 4. Take orders from patrons for food or beverages. AI use: 0%
- 5. Remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters, and take them to kitchen for cleaning. AI use: 0%
- 6. Clean tables or counters after patrons have finished dining. AI use: 0%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Worker profile
Median age 25.8 · 1.8M employed
Under 25: 50% · 25–54: 43% · 55+: 8%
Related
No direct US role match is available yet for this occupation.
Source coverage
11/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Data quality
Employment data available
Narrative & sources
Waiters and waitresses take orders and serve food and beverages to customers in dining establishments.
Waiters and waitresses work in restaurants, bars, hotels, and other food-serving and drinking establishments. Part-time work is common, and schedules may vary to include early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Waiters and waitresses typically do not need formal education to enter the occupation. They are typically trained on the job.
The median hourly wage for waiters and waitresses was $16.23 in May 2024.
Employment of waiters and waitresses is projected to grow 1 percent from 2024 to 2034, decline.
Important context
This score measures structural AI displacement pressure, not actual job losses. Local wages and demand data are specific to United States AI Work Index; the underlying AI task overlap analysis is consistent across all countries.