Explore by Career/Food Preparation and Serving Related
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
Welcome patrons, seat them at tables or in lounge, and help ensure quality of facilities and service.
- Median pay
- $30,380
- per year
- 10-year outlook
- -1.5%
- Declining
- Typical entry
- No formal educational credential
Key skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
- Coordination
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Negotiation
What they do
- Provide guests with menus.
- Assign patrons to tables suitable for their needs and according to rotation so that servers receive an appropriate number of seatings.
- Greet guests and seat them at tables or in waiting areas.
- Answer telephone calls and respond to inquiries or transfer calls.
- Operate cash registers to accept payments for food and beverages.
- Speak with patrons to ensure satisfaction with food and service, to respond to complaints, or to make conversation.
- Take and prepare to-go orders.
- Maintain contact with kitchen staff, management, serving staff, and customers to ensure that dining details are handled properly and customers' concerns are addressed.
- Receive and record patrons' dining reservations.
- Inspect dining and serving areas to ensure cleanliness and proper setup.
Majors that lead here
No mapped majors yet.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS, Employment Projections) and O*NET, used under CC BY 4.0.