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Food and Beverage Server: Occupations in Alberta - alis
Are you patient and naturally cheerful? Are you interested in the food services industry? Do you like working in a fast-paced environment? Then you may want to place your order for a career as a food and beverage server.
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Occupations in Alberta
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Updated

Food and Beverage Server

Food and beverage servers take and serve customers' food and beverage orders in restaurants and bars.

Easy Reading Profile
  • Avg. Salary $20,041.00
  • Avg. Wage $15.47
  • Minimum Education Varies
  • Outlook above avg
  • Employed 22,900
  • In Demand Medium
Also Known As

Server, Waiter / Waitress

NOC Codes

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:

  • 2006 NOC: Food and Beverage Servers (6453) 
  • 2006 NOC-S: Food and Beverage Servers (G513) 
  • 2011 NOC: Food and beverage servers (6513) 
  • 2016 NOC: Food and beverage servers (6513) 
Skills Shortage

Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years

74%
74%
Average Wage
Starting
Overall
Top
Average Wage
Starting $15.11
Overall $15.47
Top $17.32
  • Certification Not Regulated
  • Strength Required Lift up to 10 kg
Interest Codes
The Food and Beverage Server is part of the following larger National Occupational Classification (NOC).
Food and Beverage Servers
METHODICAL

Interest in copying to take orders and relay them to kitchen and bar staff; in performing sensory evaluation of wines; and in ordering and maintaining inventory of wines and wine glassware

SOCIAL

Interest in serving food and beverages to patrons

objective

Interest in handling the preparation of specialty foods at patrons' tables

Reading Interest Codes
A Quick Guide

The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation. 
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective and Social.

Each set of 3 interest codes is listed in order of importance.

A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.

A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.

Learn More

Duties
Updated May 18, 2021

Food and beverage servers' duties vary considerably from one type of establishment to another. In fast food outlets, they often work behind counters and use computerized systems to take orders and tabulate bills. In coffee shops and cocktail lounges, they provide quick and efficient service for customers seated at tables. In formal dining establishments, they carefully observe established rules of service and etiquette, and pace the meal according to customer preference. In general, however, food and beverage servers:

  • Prepare tables or counters for meals
  • Stock the service area with supplies (for example, coffee, glassware)
  • Greet customers, present menus and help customers select menu items
  • Inform customers about daily specials
  • Record and place food or drink orders with the kitchen and bar
  • Pick up and serve orders
  • Check that customers are enjoying their meals and resolve any customer complaints with the help of management
  • Suggest and serve desserts and beverages
  • Clean and maintain appearance of establishment
  • Tabulate and present bills for payment
Working Conditions
Updated May 18, 2021

Working conditions for food and beverage servers vary from one type of food and beverage establishment to another.

Shift work and split shifts built around normal meal times are common in the food service industry. At busy times, food and beverage servers are constantly on their feet and under pressure to serve customers quickly. They take their own meal breaks between busy meal serving times.

  • Strength Required Lift up to 10 kg
Skills & Abilities
Updated May 18, 2021

Food and beverage servers need:

  • Good health
  • Good grooming
  • Verbal communication skills
  • Memorization skills
  • Sensitivity to customer needs
  • Organizational and multi-tasking skills
  • The ability to serve customers cheerfully, courteously and efficiently
  • The ability to work as part of a team
  • The ability to work with little supervision
  • The ability to work calmly under pressure

Other requirements depend on the environment in which the server works. For example, serving in a coffee shop or cocktail lounge requires the ability to remember many orders and move very quickly.

Food and beverage servers should enjoy having clear rules and organized methods, working with people, and working with tools and equipment.

Top 10 Skills Employers Are Looking For

Food and beverage servers
NOC code: 6513

This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 100 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Jan 30, 2021 and Jul 28, 2021.

Review these skills to learn:

  • Whether or not this occupation matches your skill set
  • What training you may need to get these skills
  • What skills to highlight in your resumé, cover letter, and interview.
Serve food and beverages
Present bills to customers and accept payment in cash, credit or debit cards, travellers cheques or room billings
Greet patrons, present menus, make recommendations and answer questions regarding food and beverages
Describe menu items including daily specials for customers
Take orders and relay to kitchen and bar staff
Advise on menu selections
Clear and clean tables, trays and chairs
Provide customer service
Personal Suitability: Team player
Personal Suitability: Client focus
Serve food and beverages 94
Present bills to customers and accept payment in cash, credit or debit cards, travellers cheques or room billings 89
Greet patrons, present menus, make recommendations and answer questions regarding food and beverages 84
Describe menu items including daily specials for customers 82
Take orders and relay to kitchen and bar staff 80
Advise on menu selections 77
Clear and clean tables, trays and chairs 73
Provide customer service 58
Personal Suitability: Team player 56
Personal Suitability: Client focus 55
Educational Requirements
Updated May 18, 2021

There are no standard education or training requirements for food and beverage servers. However, server intervention training, food safety training and food allergy training are definite assets when looking for employment.

Food and beverage servers who serve liquor must be at least 18 years of age. In formal dining rooms, food and beverage servers also must:

  • Know proper food service etiquette
  • Use the correct terminology and be able to answer questions about dishes, wines and other beverages
  • Be able to prepare tableside dishes (for example, flambe) at the customer's table if required

Many food and beverage servers start as food service helpers or kitchen helpers (for more information, see the Food Service Helper or Kitchen Helper and Food Assembler occupational profiles). They then go on to learn the necessary skills and knowledge by observing more experienced workers and taking short courses, such as server intervention and food safety courses. Some employers use self-instructional programs to teach new employees food preparation and service skills.

All staff involved in the sale and service of liquor in licensed premises (for example, owners, managers and supervisors, retailers, bartenders and servers, greeters and hosts, and security staff) must have ProServe Liquor Staff Training. This is a provincial government training program designed to ensure liquor service and sales activities are conducted with integrity and in a socially responsible manner. ProServe is available online, as a self-directed program of home study using a video and a manual, or by seminar.

In Alberta, food safety courses are offered by:

Visit the Government of Alberta website or contact 780-427-7164 for a listing of approved food safety training options.

The Government of Alberta awards a Food Sanitation and Hygiene Certification to those who complete approved training and achieve at least 70% on a provincial exam. Food facilities generally must employ at least 1 person who is certified. Where 6 or more people are working on site, at least 1 person present must be certified. Where fewer people are working on site, the certified person may be absent.

For a broad list of programs and courses that may be related to this occupation try searching using keywords.

Certification Requirements
Updated May 18, 2021

Certification is not required, as there is currently no legislation regulating this occupation.

However, Tourism HR Canada (formerly the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council or CTHRC) offers a voluntary Food and Beverage Server certification. Recognized across Canada, this training, which leads to a Tourism Certified Professional (TCP) designation, is accessible from the emerit website.

Employment & Advancement
Updated May 18, 2021

Food and beverage servers are employed in restaurants, coffee shops, bars, clubs, hotels and other retail eating and drinking establishments. There are more part-time positions in this occupation than there are in most occupations, and most food and beverage servers are young.

Experienced food and beverage servers can move to better paying jobs in larger and more formal food establishments. They may advance to lead hand positions such as captain or head waiter / waitress, maitre d' hotel or other supervisory positions (for more information, see the Food and Beverage Service Supervisor in Formal Dining Rooms occupational profile). Although some larger organizations provide management training programs or training on the job for dependable workers who have leadership ability, related post-secondary education and emerit certification are definite assets for advancement.

Food and beverage servers are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 6513: Food and beverage servers. In Alberta, 90% of people employed in this classification work in the Accommodation and Food Services [pdf] industry.

The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

  • Trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the Accommodation and Food Services industry)
  • Location in Alberta
  • Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
  • Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
  • Size of the occupation

In Alberta, the 6513: Food and beverage servers occupational group is expected to have an above-average annual growth of 2.2% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 498 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.

There is a relatively high employment turnover rate (particularly in lower priced restaurants) so job openings occur quite frequently. However, competition is keen for positions that offer the opportunity to earn more money in tips.

Wage & Salary
Updated May 18, 2021

Food and beverage servers often are paid just above minimum wage, plus tips. (As of June 26, 2019, the minimum wage in Alberta is $15.00 per hour for most workers. For more information, see Minimum Wage.) Servers' incomes from tips are generally higher during peak periods such as summer or holiday seasons than in January and February. In many restaurants, food and beverage servers contribute a portion of their tips to a tip pool which is distributed among all servers, food service helpers, hosts/hostesses and bartenders.

Servers who provide superior customer service, particularly in restaurants where meal prices are higher, generally earn most of their income from tips.

Food and beverage servers

Survey Methodology

Survey Analysis

Overall Wage Details
Average Wage
Average Salary
Hours Per Week
Overall Wage Details
Average Wage $15.47 / hr
Average Salary $20,041.00 / yr
Hours Per Week 25.6 hrs
Hourly Wage
For full-time and part-time employees
  • Low
  • High
  • Average
  • Median
Starting
Overall
Top
Wages* Low (5th percentile) High (95th percentile) Average Median
Starting $15.00 $15.56 $15.11 $15.00
Overall $15.00 $17.50 $15.47 $15.00
Top $15.00 $21.48 $17.32 $15.00

Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.

* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.

A: High Reliability
Data Reliability Code Definition

High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.

Industry Information
Retail Trade
Accommodation & Food Services
ALL INDUSTRIES
Health Care & Social Assistance
Other Services (Repair, Personal Services and Related)
Information, Culture, Recreation
Retail Trade $26,210
Accommodation & Food Services $20,345
ALL INDUSTRIES $20,041
Health Care & Social Assistance $18,115
Other Services (Repair, Personal Services and Related) $16,708
Information, Culture, Recreation $15,933
Skills Shortage

Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years

74%
74%)

Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties

29%
29%

Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months

13%
13%

Vacancy Rate

3%
Related High School Subjects
  • Health, Recreation and Human Services
    • Tourism
Related Post-Secondary Field of Study
  • Personal and Food Services
Other Sources of Information
Updated May 18, 2021

Canadian Association of Foodservice Professionals website: cafp.ca

emerit website: emerit.ca

National Restaurant Association [United States] website: www.restaurant.org

ProServe Liquor Staff Training website: proserve.aglc.ca

Restaurants Canada website: www.restaurantscanada.org

Tourism HR Canada website: tourismhr.ca

Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.

Updated May 18, 2021. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.

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