65200 – Food and beverage servers
Lead statement
Food and beverage servers take patrons' food and beverage orders and serve orders to patrons.
Main duties
- Greet patrons, present menus, make recommendations and answer questions regarding food and beverages
- Take orders and relay to kitchen and bar staff
- Recommend wines that complement patrons' meals
- Serve food and beverages
- Prepare and serve specialty foods at patrons' tables
- Present bill to patrons and accept payment
- May order and maintain inventory of wines and wine glassware
- May perform sensory evaluation of wines.
Employment requirements
- An apprenticeship program for food and beverage servers is available, but voluntary, in Quebec and Saskatchewan.
- Sommeliers may require courses in wine selection and service orexperience as a formal waiter/waitress.
- Formal waiters/waitresses may require completion of a one- or two-year apprenticeship program orcollege or vocational school courses.
- On-the-job training is usually provided.
- Completion of secondary school may be required.
- Responsible beverage service certification is usually required for employees serving alcoholic beverages.
Example job titles
captain waiter/waitress - food and beverage services · captain waiter/waitress · server - food and beverage services · waiter/waitress - food and beverage services · waiter/waitress · waiter/waitress - drive-in restaurant · buffet waiter/waitress · mess waiter/waitress · food and beverage server · formal service waiter/waitress · hotel waiter/waitress - formal service · camp waiter/waitress · dining car waiter/waitress · banquet server · banquet waiter/waitress · lounge waiter/waitress · beer server · cocktail waiter/waitress · caterer waiter/waitress · banquet captain · banquet headwaiter/headwaitress · dining room captain · captain waiter/waitress - formal service · room service waiter/waitress · wine waiter/waitress · wine steward · wine server · chief wine steward · dining room steward · steward - food and beverage services · dining car steward · assistant waiter/waitress - food and beverage services · bar service waiter/waitress · club car attendant · commissary waiter/waitress · restaurant waiter/waitress - formal service · sommelier · headwaiter/headwaitress - food and beverage services
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $15.00 | $18.50 | $30.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.00 | $16.50 | $25.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $16.50 | $16.50 | $25.00 |
| New Brunswick | $15.65 | $17.00 | $25.00 |
| Quebec | $16.10 | $20.00 | $35.00 |
| Ontario | $17.60 | $17.60 | $26.00 |
| Manitoba | $16.00 | $16.00 | $23.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $15.35 | $15.35 | $22.50 |
| Alberta | $15.00 | $18.00 | $30.00 |
| British Columbia | $17.85 | $20.00 | $30.00 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.