This post provides detailed information on the catering server job description, including the key duties, tasks, and responsibilities they commonly perform.
(You will be able to download the catering server job description template in pdf below.)
It also highlights the major requirements you may be expected to fulfill to be hired for the catering server role by most employers.
What Does a Catering Server Do?
Catering can be referred to as the business of providing food service at a site, such as public house, hotel, or other locations.
Catering servers may work for banquet or event venue or catering companies where they are responsible for ensuring that the right food is served to guests.
They perform a range of duties before, during, and after an event to ensure that foods are effectively served to guests to their satisfaction.
The catering server job description entails performing multiple tasks and providing exemplary guest service through all forms of banquet services and setting up of catering events.
If you have quick thinking, and are very smart and fast on your feet and can perform several tasks at a time, this may be your ideal job.
The event caterer servers are not responsible for cooking the food but often help in setting up the dining area.
Therefore, this kind of service is typically provided at conventions, weddings, and banquets.
Any type of event where all attendees are provided with drinks and food, or sometimes only hors d’oeuvres is often referred to as a catered event.
A catering specialist or company is expected to know how to cook food and to make it very attractive.
As such, some catering companies have moved towards full-service business model popularly associated with event planners.
They not only take charge of food preparation but also decorations, such as lighting and table settings.
Catering is mostly sold on an individual basis; so this means that there is a fixed price for each additional person that might be included.
However, things like fire permits and lighting are not scaled with the guest count; therefore individual pricing is not always recommended.
It is important to keep the cost of the supplies and food below a price margin so as to make a profit on the catering.
Like many others in the food service industry, caterers and catering servers work long hours.
It is very common for them to work 7 days a week during holidays or during a whole holiday event seasons.
Catering servers can develop their careers by belonging to certain professional associations, such as the National Association for Catering and Events (NACE), which provide the necessary tools, resources and connections for their members to grow and thrive in their careers.
Catering Server Job Description Example/Sample/Template
Presented below is an example of the kind of job description usually given to newly employed individuals for the catering server job. It shows typical duties, tasks, and responsibilities of the position.
- Follow direction from the supervisor or manager; serve food and drinks to guests according to the style requested
- Maintain professional appearance and friendly attitude towards guests, clients, and colleagues
- Ensure orders are correct by communicating with expos and kitchen staff
- Share information on menu items and possible dietary/allergic reactions with guests
- Take and deliver guest orders and resolve complaints or dissatisfaction quickly and effectively
- Provide exemplary guest service through all forms of banquet service, carving stations, bartending, running food during events, buffets, plated, replenishing product and supplies in compliance with event standards
- Ensure that events are properly equipped and executed by transporting, pulling, setting up and breaking down, as well as returning equipment to designated storages in compliance with event standards and instructions
- Provide creative solutions to supervisor and operations manager in resolving problems during catering events
- Perform front of the house, back of the house, and side work duties, including helping to provide a safe and clean work environment
- Clean, organize and restock equipment/product returning from catering events
- Assist in moving, storing, and placing catering items, rental orders, and buffet cards appropriately
- Understand safety responsibilities as well as environmental laws by following established procedures, policies, training and involvement activities
- Perform other duties that could be assigned.
Requirements – Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities for the Post of Catering Server
Here are important attributes individuals aspiring to the position of catering server are mainly required to possess by hiring managers:
- Punctuality and consistent attendance.
- Have not less than a High school diploma.
- Have not less than two to three years of banquet service or external catering experience or its equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Must be at least eighteen years of age to serve alcoholic drinks.
- Must be able to read and understand simple instructions, memos and short correspondence.
- Must be able to respond to simple complaints or inquiries from customers, members of the business community, and/or regulatory agencies.
- Must be able to do simple arithmetic in all units of measure, using common fractions, whole numbers, and decimals. In fact, must be able to do simple mathematical calculation.
- Must be able to make independence decisions.
Download catering server job description template (pdf)
Catering Server Employment
According to survey data on Zippia, the number of caterers/servers currently in employment in the United States is more than 978,228, with 63.1% women and 36.9% men.
However, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in its May, 2023 report gave the number of employed waiters and waitresses (related occupation title to catering server) in the United States in 2023 to be 2,237,850.
Employment by Industry
The survey data on Zippia shows that the industries that employ the most caterers/servers in the United States include:
- Hospitality: 430,420
- Education: 107,605
- Professional: 97,823
- Manufacturing: 39,129
- Retail: 29,347
Employment by States
Also shown by the Zippia report is that the States with the highest number of employed caterers/servers include Texas and California, with 3,270 and 2,648 employments respectively.
Catering Server Salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS, in its May, 2023 report, waiters and waitresses (related job title to catering server) earned average yearly salary of $36,530.
However, data on Zippia shows that the average yearly salary of caterers/servers is $33,737.
Salary by Industry
The BLS report gave the industries that pay the highest salaries to waiters and waitresses in the United States in 2023 as:
- Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events: $55,640
- Other Schools and Instruction: $46,770
- Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers: $45,560
- Performing Arts Companies: $42,670
- Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations: $40,770
Salary by State
The BLS report also showed States where waiters and waitresses are paid the highest salaries to include Vermont and Washington, with average salary of $60,200 and $57,960 per year respectively.
