Jobs Similar to Waiters and Waitresses
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to waiters and waitresses, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop, Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers and Bartenders.
Waiters and Waitresses: $35,230 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Waiters and Waitresses) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | 81% | $31,200−11% | High school |
| 2 | Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | 80% | $32,910−7% | High school |
| 3 | BartendersSame group | 80% | $34,340−3% | High school |
| 4 | Fast Food and Counter WorkersSame group | 80% | $31,200−11% | High school |
| 5 | Food Servers, NonrestaurantSame group | 79% | $35,3600% | High school |
| 6 | Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | 77% | $33,980−4% | High school |
| 7 | Cashiers | 77% | $32,880−7% | High school |
| 8 | Gambling Dealers | 76% | $34,320−3% | High school |
| 9 | BaristasSame group | 76% | $31,200Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 10 | Stockers and Order Fillers | 76% | $37,330+6% | High school |
| 11 | Retail Salespersons | 76% | $35,410+1% | High school |
| 12 | Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners | 76% | $34,980−1% | High school |
| 13 | Amusement and Recreation Attendants | 76% | $32,150−9% | High school |
| 14 | Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks | 75% | $35,0700% | High school |
| 15 | Postal Service Clerks | 75% | $62,130+76% | High school |
| 16 | Flight Attendants | 74% | $63,580+80% | High school |
| 17 | Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants | 74% | $36,300+3% | High school |
| 18 | Shampooers | 74% | $32,600−7% | High school |
| 19 | Baggage Porters and Bellhops | 74% | $37,080+5% | High school |
| 20 | Pharmacy Aides | 73% | $37,680+7% | High school |
- 1Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
81% similar · $31,200 (−11%) · High school
- 2Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers
80% similar · $32,910 (−7%) · High school
- 3Bartenders
80% similar · $34,340 (−3%) · High school · Same group
- 4Fast Food and Counter Workers
80% similar · $31,200 (−11%) · High school · Same group
- 5Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
79% similar · $35,360 (0%) · High school · Same group
- 6Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
77% similar · $33,980 (−4%) · High school
- 7Cashiers
77% similar · $32,880 (−7%) · High school
- 8Gambling Dealers
76% similar · $34,320 (−3%) · High school
- 9Baristas
76% similar · $31,200 (broader group) · High school · Same group
- 10Stockers and Order Fillers
76% similar · $37,330 (+6%) · High school
- 11Retail Salespersons
76% similar · $35,410 (+1%) · High school
- 12Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners
76% similar · $34,980 (−1%) · High school
- 13Amusement and Recreation Attendants
76% similar · $32,150 (−9%) · High school
- 14Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks
75% similar · $35,070 (0%) · High school
- 15Postal Service Clerks
75% similar · $62,130 (+76%) · High school
- 16Flight Attendants
74% similar · $63,580 (+80%) · High school
- 17Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants
74% similar · $36,300 (+3%) · High school
- 18Shampooers
74% similar · $32,600 (−7%) · High school
- 19Baggage Porters and Bellhops
74% similar · $37,080 (+5%) · High school
- 20Pharmacy Aides
73% similar · $37,680 (+7%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than waiters and waitresses.
- Flight Attendants74% similar · $63,580 (+80%)
- Postal Service Clerks75% similar · $62,130 (+76%)
- Pharmacy Aides73% similar · $37,680 (+7%)
- Stockers and Order Fillers76% similar · $37,330 (+6%)
- Baggage Porters and Bellhops74% similar · $37,080 (+5%)
- Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants74% similar · $36,300 (+3%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for waiters and waitresses also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where waiters and waitresses is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop (91)
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers (87)
- Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants (81)
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers (80)
- Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks (79)
- Cashiers (77)
- Amusement and Recreation Attendants (76)
- Gambling Dealers (76)
- Retail Salespersons (76)
- Stockers and Order Fillers (76)
Questions about jobs like waiters and waitresses
What jobs are most similar to waiters and waitresses?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop (81% similar), Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers (80% similar), Bartenders (80% similar), Fast Food and Counter Workers (80% similar) and Food Servers (79% similar).
Which jobs like waiters and waitresses pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Flight Attendants ($63,580, +80%; usually a high school diploma), Postal Service Clerks ($62,130, +76%; usually a high school diploma) and Pharmacy Aides ($37,680, +7%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with waiters and waitresses ($35,230). Without more preparation than waiters and waitresses usually need: Flight Attendants, Postal Service Clerks and Pharmacy Aides.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.