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Waiter/Waitress
Overview
Waiters and waitresses take orders, deliver food and beverages, computer bills, and ensure orders match customers’ requests.
Description
- Take orders and deliver food and beverages to tables.
- Follow food safety and hygiene policies.
- Maintain or improve customer satisfaction through exceptional service.
- Find solutions through communication and innovative problem-solving.
- Use digital systems to place orders and calculate bills.
Entry requirements
- No formal education is required, experience is what’s important. Start working to gain some skills and you may eventually work at high-end restaurants.
Salary
$3,300 – 4,400
/mo
Salary ranges are estimated based on public information found on Singaporean job portals, including MyCareersFuture, MySkillsFuture. Updated as of 2026.
Trivia
A skilled waiter or waitress may carry up to 15 plates at once using proper technique. Professionals also memorise entire orders without writing anything and calculate bills faster than calculators.
What to expect
It may be confusing attending to multiple tables at the same time, so you’ll need to be good at multitasking and memory.
Soft
skills
Customer Orientation
Able to predict and meet customer needs, handle special requests, and resolve issues.
Communication
Able to understand customers’ preferences and convey them well to other staff.
Attention to Detail
Ability to ensure every aspect of service is managed carefully.
Basic Mathematics
Familiar with using maths to handle transactions and bills.
Knowledge of Food Safety Regulations
Able to ensure food is handled properly.
Physical Stamina
Able to move quickly around dining areas with trays and work long hours on your feet.
Hard
skills
Frequently asked questions
You may start working as a server from age 13, but some restaurants require servers to be 18 so they may serve alcoholic beverages.
Hosts greet customers, and handle reservations and seating arrangements. Waiters or waitresses attend to customers once they’re seated, take orders, and serve food.
They focus on more urgent tasks like taking orders and delivering food, while keeping in mind tasks like refilling drinks or providing extra utensils.
Being a waiter or waitress is an entry-level job, but it does give you a strong foundation for hospitality careers, with opportunities to advance to supervisory roles or restaurant management.
They listen attentively to customer concerns, which shows their respect for the customer and helps them find good solutions.