6513-NOC

Food and beverage servers

(NOC 65200)
Annual Earnings
$37,541
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
No Formal Education
Job Openings
(2023-2033)
5,370

Career Overview

Food and beverage servers work in restaurants, hotels, bars, pubs, private clubs and banquet halls. They take food and drink orders and serve them to customers. They may also seat customers and assist with takeout orders.

Duties

Food and beverage servers perform some or all these duties:

  • Greet customers, give them menus and seat them at a table
  • Make food and drink suggestions and answer the customer’s questions
  • Take food and beverage orders and give them to the kitchen or bar staff to prepare
  • Serve food and drinks
  • Accept and process credit card, debit or cash payments
  • Order and maintain inventory of wines and glassware
  • Taste-test wines or new food items in order to provide recommendations to the customers

 

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$37,541

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$28.00/hr
Median$18.00/hr
Low$16.75/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2023 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

17,940

% Employed Full Time

12%
Source: 2021 Census

Food and beverage servers work in a variety of places—from casual pubs to formal restaurants and even as a caterer for weddings, parties or company meetings. People in this job may work indoors or outdoors depending on their workplace and the season. Some food and beverage workers might work on patios during the summer in B.C.

Work hours can vary. Shift work and shifts split between regular mealtimes are common. Those in this career may need to work evenings, weekends and holidays when people are more likely to go out or attend events that are catered.

Food and beverage servers may need to work faster than usual during busy mealtimes or during a catered event. They may also have to deal with difficult customers or situations.

People with this job may risk injuries, such as hurting their wrists or arms from carrying orders or experiencing back pain from heavy lifting and standing for long periods of time. They may also be at risk for falls on slippery floors, burns from hot liquids, damage to hearing from loud noise, or illness from contact with the public. Additionally, people in this job may experience unwanted attention or even sexual harassment. They may also have to address problems that could happen because a customer has had too much alcohol.

In recent years, working conditions have greatly improved because of the introduction of new bylaws and restrictions through programs such as FOODSAFE, Serving it Right™ and organizations like WorkSafeBC. If a server’s supervisor or company is not able to ensure a safe work environment, WorkSafeBC’s Teleclaim is able to support the worker by advocating for their protection.

Career Pathways

Food and beverage servers with experience can move into higher-paying positions at more formal or popular restaurants, pubs or other companies providing food and drinks. They may also move into supervisory or management positions, although this may require further education, such as the hospitality management program.

With additional experience, these workers may also choose to own and run their own businesses.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Social
Social

Job Titles

Banquet server
Captain waiter/waitress
Chief wine steward
Cocktail waiter/waitress
Food and beverage server
Formal service waiter/waitress
Sommelier
Waiter/waitress
Wine steward

Education, Training and Skills

No standard training or education is required for food and beverage servers. Some secondary school may be necessary depending on the type of work or the company. Other training or job conditions may include:

  • Food safety training and customer service experience
  • On-the-job training
  • Establishments that serve alcohol require the server be at least 19 years of age and take coursework through Responsible Service BC. The mandatory course is Serving It Right, while the Special Events Certificate is only applicable to serving alcohol at special events
  • FOODSAFE Level 1 is required for working directly with food or drinks. However, depending on the server’s responsibility, they may be required to take FOODSAFE Level 2

Food and beverage servers who are certified for that occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.

For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.

Contact Foodsafe or the Responsible Service BC for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.

For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.

View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.

Education programs in B.C.

EducationPlannerBC Logo
Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

59%
Service Orientation

Actively looking for ways to help people.

57%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

57%
Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

54%
Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

50%
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

47%
Monitoring

Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

46%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

45%
Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

45%
Time Management

Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

45%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

17,940
Source: 2021 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Employment % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 355 2.0%
Kootenay 545 3.0%
Mainland/Southwest 10,540 58.8%
North Coast and Nechako 185 1.0%
Northeast 190 1.1%
Thompson-Okanagan 2,675 14.9%
Vancouver Island/Coast 3,445 19.2%
Source: 2021 Census

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2023-2033)

5,370
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2023-2033)

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 50 0.1%
Kootenay 160 1.4%
Mainland/Southwest 3,610 1.4%
North Coast and Nechako 40 1.5%
Northeast 50 0.8%
Thompson-Okanagan 620 0.9%
Vancouver Island/Coast 850 1.2%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2023-2033)
Accommodation And Food Services5,060
Information, Culture And Recreation220
Health Care And Social Assistance30
Manufacturing20
Retail Trade10
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Insights from Industry

As a result of some food and beverage server positions being part-time and entry-level work, this may be a good job for students who are paying for their education or who are trying to earn extra money. However, there are also many people who choose this as a career path and who see their role and the skills they use as an important part of a person’s dining experience.

People with excellent customer service skills are in higher demand for this job. Food and beverage servers who familiarize themselves with the food and drinks they serve will find it easier to be hired. A good memory is useful in this job.

Food and beverage servers should have strong communication skills. They will speak to a wide variety of people — with different personalities — and are expected to stay positive, upbeat and calm no matter what happens. They need to work well in a team and be proactive on their own. It is helpful if people in this job are organized and able to do many tasks while serving. It’s important to act and dress professionally for this job.

Servers often need to be strong enough to lift and carry heavy trays of food and beverages.

Resources