Many people have earned a living waiting tables including movie stars, models, singers, college kids and moms. Waitresses often choose this job because they receive daily cash from tips and have a love of interacting with customers. As a waitress you would do more than just take orders and deliver food with a smile, however; your duties would extend to many behind-the-scenes tasks as well.

Food Service

Serving piping hot food to diners in a timely manner is what servers are best known for. However, waitressing involves more than just getting the food to the table. Servers also fill cups and glasses with hot and cold beverages, fill baskets with bread, rolls, toast and condiments such as butter, honey, jam and jelly and dish up sides including salads, coleslaw and soup. They also check that orders are correct and that food has been prepared according to customer specifications.

Customer Service

Service with a smile is always the goal of a skilled waitress. Greeting customers with a grin and a cheery comment, taking orders quickly and accurately and answering questions about ingredients, substitutions and food preparation methods are key as well. Waitresses also check back often to handle drink refills, inquire about the quality of the food and take any additional orders for after-dinner drinks and desserts. Most waitresses also bid their customers farewell and wish them a good day.

Money

Money also plays a part in the service a waitress offers. Most waitresses prepare the bill by hand or by computer, ensuring that all items are included and totaled correctly. They take the customer's cash or credit card payment and return with any change and a receipt. Waitresses also collect their tips and report them on a form that allows them to be tallied for taxation. Unfortunately, many waitresses make only a few dollars an hour -- usually less than minimum wage -- and depend on tips that they hope will make up the income difference.

Prep Work

Before an establishment opens and long after it closes, waitresses are often hard at work preparing for customers and cleaning up after them. Rolling silverware into paper napkins, folding cloth napkins and replacing soiled tablecloths with fresh linen usually falls on the shoulders of the waitress. Stocking carryout stations, refilling condiments such as ketchup and mustard and topping off coffee creamers are other tasks they regularly undertake. Many waitresses also break down steam tables, clean out coffee makers and soda stations and wipe down everything in sight after a hard day's work.

Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers salary

• Top 10% Annual Salary: More than $100,910 ($48.51/hour)
• Median Annual Salary: $60,590 ($29.13/hour)
• Bottom 10% Annual Salary: Less than $36,630 ($17.61/hour)