Free server job description template
Fill in the [brackets] and cut anything that doesn’t fit your job. Unlock one-tap copy and PDF download free with your email.
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Server job description template · Fill in the [brackets]
Server
About the job
[Business name] is hiring a Server who takes orders, serves food and drinks and makes sure every guest has a great experience. [One or two sentences about your business and why someone would want to work there.]
What you’ll do
- Greet guests, explain specials and answer menu questions
- Take food and beverage orders and enter them in [POS system]
- Carry food and drinks from the kitchen to the tables
- Check on guests to make sure they are satisfied
- Clear tables and reset them for the next guests
- Prepare itemized checks, take payment and return change
- Set up dining areas and stock service stations
What you need
- Friendly and dependable
- Able to carry trays and stand for a full shift
- Age requirement for serving alcohol in your state [often 18 or older]
- Available [evenings, weekends and holidays]
Nice to have
- Serving experience
- Food handler card [if required locally]
How to apply
[Apply link, email or phone], by [date].
[Business name] is an equal opportunity employer.
✓ Unlocked. Use the buttons above the template to copy it or save it as a PDF.
Example: the template filled in for a small business
Hypothetical example for The Blue Heron Grill, a 60-seat family restaurant.
The Blue Heron Grill is hiring Servers for dinner shifts (Wednesday to Sunday, 4 to close). You'll greet guests, take orders on our tablet POS, run food and keep your section running smoothly. We'll train you on the menu; you must be old enough to serve alcohol in our state.
Notice what makes it work: real hours, the actual tools, who they report to, and one honest reason to want the job. That’s the difference between a blank template and a job description that gets the right applicants.
What a server does
A server takes orders, serves food and drinks and makes sure every guest has a great experience. Typical duties include:
- Greet guests, explain specials and answer menu questions
- Take food and beverage orders and enter them in POS system
- Carry food and drinks from the kitchen to the tables
- Check on guests to make sure they are satisfied
- Clear tables and reset them for the next guests
- Prepare itemized checks, take payment and return change
Duties adapted from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Requirements, training and licenses
No formal education is required. Servers typically learn through on-the-job training that lasts a month or less. Most states require workers who serve alcoholic beverages to be at least 18 years old, and some require servers to be older.
Training: Short-term on-the-job training, usually a month or less.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Waiters and Waitresses.
How much does a server make?
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. A median means half earned more and half earned less. Pay in your area may be higher or lower; check postings for similar jobs near you. A growing number of states and cities require a pay range in job postings, so check your local rules before you post.
Before you set the rate, run the free hiring cost calculator. It adds payroll taxes and other costs and shows how much work the hire needs to bring in to pay for itself.
Free template or written for you?
| Free template | Job Description $30 | Hiring Kit $299 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written for | Any business | Your business | Your business |
| Duties and schedule | Typical, with blanks | Yours, filled in | Yours, filled in |
| Pay | National figure | Set for your local market | Set for your local market |
| State rules | “Check your state” | Checked for your state | Checked for your state |
| Ready to post | No, you edit it | Yes | Yes, plus the job posting |
| Performance review form | — | Included free | Included |
| Interview guide and 30-60-90 day plan | — | — | Included |
| Use the template | Have us write it | Get the Hiring Kit |
Free template
- Typical duties with blanks to fill in
- National pay figure
- You edit it before posting
Job Description · $30
- Written for your business: your duties, schedule and pay
- Checked for your state’s rules
- Ready to post
- Free matching performance review form
Hiring Kit · $299
- Everything in the $30 job description
- The job posting
- Interview guide
- 30-60-90 day plan for the new hire
Fixed prices. See what’s included in Job Description Writing and the Hiring Kit.
Common questions
How old does a server have to be?
It depends on your state and on whether the person will serve alcohol. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says most states require workers who serve alcoholic beverages to be at least 18, and some require servers to be older. Check your state's rules, and the federal child labor rules for anyone under 18.
Can I use this template for free?
Yes. Copy it, edit it and post it. It's a starting point written for any business, so fill in the brackets and adjust the duties to your actual job. If you'd rather have it written for your business, ready to post, our Job Description service is $30.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page is general information. Requirements for some roles, especially in healthcare, vary by state. Check your state's rules, and talk to an employment attorney if you're unsure.
Published by Groundwork Business Advisory. Updated October 2026. General information, not legal advice. Pay data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2025 wage estimates.