Whether you’re serving take-out to a customer on-the-go or providing a five-star fine dining experience, you need a great staff to leave your customers with a lasting impression of quality. There are some restaurant positions that span the different types of foodservice establishments, but there are also some very specific and specialized jobs. Keep reading to learn about the different positions in a restaurant and what type of restaurant you might find that position in.
Common Restaurant Staff
From fast food to five-star eateries, these restaurant positions will be available in most establishments. No matter what type of foodservice establishment you operate, these positions will make up the backbone of your staff.
General Manager
Job Description: General managers play a key role in every restaurant. They are responsible for hiring applicants, letting employees go, training new hires, overseeing general restaurant activities, and working on marketing and community outreach strategies. They may also help to set menu prices and purchase supplies.
General Manager Job Requirements:
- Excellent people skills
- Calm under pressure
- May require a 2-4 year degree and/or experience
General Manager Average Wage: $24.00 - $31.00
Assistant Manager
Job Description: Second in command, but not less important, assistant managers are essential for every busy restaurant. They assist the manager with training duties, help with scheduling, oversee employees, and fill in if the manager has the day off.
Assistant Manager Job Requirements:
- Excellent people skills
- Calm under pressure
- May require a 2-4 year degree and/or experience
Assistant Manager Average Wage: $19.00 - $27.00
Line Cook
Job Description: Although the duties differ depending upon the establishment, line cooks can be found in most restaurants, excluding fast food. A line cook may be responsible for one or multiple areas of the kitchen, such as the grill or fryer, depending upon the size and scale of the restaurant.
Line Cook Job Requirements:
- Works well with others
- Ability to work quickly and efficiently
- Experience in a restaurant kitchen may be required
Line Cook Average Wage: $12.00 - $16.00
Dishwasher
Job Description: Essential members of any restaurant staff, dishwashers are not only responsible for making sure dishware is spotless, but they must also keep the kitchen clean and clear of garbage and hazardous clutter.
Dishwasher Job Requirements:
- Works well with others
- Ability to work quickly and efficiently
Dishwasher Average Wage: $8.00 - $12.00
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Fast Food Job Descriptions
These restaurant positions will only be found in fast food establishments. Working in fast food is an excellent gateway to the foodservice industry, making fast food jobs perfect for students and young adults.
Drive-Thru Operator
Job Description: When customers want food in a hurry, drive-thru operators must use active listening skills to ensure customer satisfaction. They are responsible for providing friendly customer service while using the cash register, taking orders, and delivering the food through the window.
Drive-Thru Operator Job Requirements:
- Excellent people skills
- Superb listening skills
- Cash handling skills
Drive-Thru Operator Average Wage: $9.00 - $13.00
Fast Food Cook
Job Description: Like the name suggests, fast food cooks must be able to prepare orders in a timely fashion. They work with equipment such as deep fryers, grills, and sandwich makers.
Fast Food Cook Job Requirements:
- Works well with others
- Multi-tasking and time management skills
- Ability to work quickly and efficiently
Fast Food Cook Average Wage: $9.00 - $13.00
Cashier
Job Description: Like the drive-thru operator, cashiers must accurately record a customer’s order as well as handle cash and operate the POS system to process the transaction. Cashiers must be able to listen when customers have problems or concerns with their orders and respond to their questions appropriately.
Cashier Job Requirements:
- Excellent people skills
- Listening skills
- Cash handling skills
Cashier Average Wage: $8.00 - $12.00
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Fast Casual and Casual Dining Jobs
There are some restaurant employees specifically for eateries that aren’t quite fast food, but don’t follow fine dining standards either. These jobs involve preparing quick foods and beverages for customers with speed and great service.
Short Order Cook
Job Description: Short order cooks can be found in diners and fast casual eateries, serving up quick recipes like breakfast foods, sandwiches and burgers, and even salads. They must be able to work quickly and competently, as well as prepare several orders at once.
Short Order Cook Job Requirements:
- Works well with others
- Ability to work quickly and efficiently
- Experience in a restaurant kitchen may be required
Short Order Cook Average Wage: $11.00 - $15.00
Barista
Job Description: At any coffee shop or cafe, you can find a barista making your favorite drinks. Baristas are responsible for preparing any number of specialty coffee, tea, and smoothie drinks, made to order for customers in a hurry.
Barista Job Requirements:
- Excellent memory
- Excellent people skills
- Ability to work quickly and efficiently
- Cash handling skills
Barista Average Wage: $9.00 - $15.00
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Casual and Fine Dining Employees
The more upscale a restaurant becomes, the more restaurant positions need to be filled in order to ensure that guests have a top quality experience. These positions can range from managers designated to lead to positions designed to serve customers and provide a smooth dining experience.
Kitchen Manager
Job Description: Like general managers, kitchen managers are responsible for hiring and firing employees, buying supplies and ingredients, and ensuring quality. However, a general manager controls both kitchen employees and front-of-house employees, whereas a kitchen manager only manages back-of-house operations.
Kitchen Manager Job Requirements:
- Excellent people skills
- Calm under pressure
- May require a 2-4 year degree and/or experience
Kitchen Manager Average Wage: $21.00 - $25.00
Food and Beverage Manager
Job Description: Some restaurants employ a food and beverage manager to manage inventory, ensure that the kitchen is compliant with health codes, and create drink menus that pair well with entrees. Food and beverage managers may also be put in charge of some dining room responsibilities, such as creating schedules for servers.
Food and Beverage Manager Job Requirements:
- Excellent people skills
- Highly organized
- May require a 2-4 year degree and/or experience
Food and Beverage Manager Average Wage: $23.00 - $34.00
Server
Job Description: A good server can make or break the customer experience. Responsible for taking orders in a friendly manner, reporting orders to the kitchen, and calculating the bill, servers play an essential role in any casual or fine dining restaurant.
Server Job Requirements:
- Excellent memory
- Excellent people skills
- Ability to work quickly and efficiently
Server Average Wage: Minimum wage (plus tips)
Prep Cook
Job Description: Prep cooks work in casual and fine dining restaurants to ensure that the chefs have ingredients in easy reach when they are creating the evening’s dinner. If a dish calls for shredded cheese, the prep cook will have it ready to go for the chef, guaranteeing that the order gets out to the customer as quickly as possible.
Prep Cook Job Requirements:
- Works well with others
- Fast learner
- Ability to work quickly and efficiently
Prep Cook Average Wage: $10.00 - $15.00
Runner
Job Description: Runners make servers’ jobs easier by delivering the food from the kitchen to the table both quickly and safely. It is their responsibility to ensure that food arrives as soon as it is ready, and at the proper temperature.
Runner Job Requirements:
- Calm under pressure
- Ability to work quickly and efficiently
Runner Average Wage: $8.00 - $13.00
Busser
Job Description: An essential part of keeping a casual or fine dining restaurant clean, a busser's job is to clear and clean tables to prepare for the next customer. They may also assist servers by filling water glasses for customers.
Busser Job Requirements:
- Calm under pressure
- Ability to work quickly and efficiently
Busser Average Wage: $8.00 - $11.00
Host
Job Description: A host or hostess is responsible for the customers' initial reaction in any casual or fine dining restaurant. They must smile and greet customers, then take them to their seats and distribute menus. They are also responsible for answering phone calls and scheduling reservations.
Host Job Requirements:
- Patience
- Excellent people skills
- Calm under pressure
- Highly organized
Host Average Wage: $8.00 - $14.00
Bartender
Job Description: Restaurant bartenders may serve customers directly or give their creations to servers for delivery, but either way, they must have an excellent memory and work well under pressure. A formal bartending education may be required at some restaurants, but many will hire based on experience.
Bartender Job Requirements:
- Excellent memory
- Excellent people skills
- Ability to work quickly and efficiently
Bartender Average Wage: $8.00 - $13.00 (plus tips)
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Fine Dining Restaurant Positions
Fine dining establishments often require specialized employees with years of experience and training in order to offer customers the best experience possible. Some of these positions are the most highy-paid and skillful jobs in the industry, meaning years of culinary background are likely required.
Executive Chef
Job Description: The executive chef is responsible for every aspect of the food that is prepared and served. Behind the scenes of any fine dining kitchen, executive chefs are creating menus, managing kitchen staff, and making sure that food leaving the kitchen is up to standards.
Executive Chef Job Requirements:
- Usually requires culinary degree and/or several years of experience
- Management skills
- Ability to work quickly and efficiently
- Highly organized
Executive Chef Average Wage: $30.00 - $50.00
Sous Chef
Job Description: The sous chef is the second-in-command in a kitchen. Like some other types of chefs, sous chefs are held to a very high standard. If the executive chef is off duty, the sous chef is responsible for keeping the kitchen running as usual.
Sous Chef Job Requirements:
- Usually requires culinary degree and/or several years of experience
- Calm under pressure
- Ability to work quickly and efficiently
- Highly organized
Sous Chef Average Wage: $20.00 - $40.00
Pastry Chef
Job Description: Some fine dining establishments employ a pastry chef, who is responsible for creating sweet treats for diners to enjoy at breakfast time or for dessert.
Pastry Chef Job Requirements:
- Formal pastry training and/or experience
- Ability to work quickly and efficiently
- Highly organized
Pastry Chef Average Wage: $19.00 - $29.00
Chef Garde Manager
Job Description: The chef garde manager is a very specialized and rare restaurant position that is in charge of all cold food items prepared in a fine dining kitchen. They prepare and plate salads, meat and cheese trays, and even cold desserts. Usually an entry-level position after formal culinary education, becoming a chef garde manager is a great way to gain kitchen experience.
Chef Garde Manager Job Requirements:
- Calm under pressure
- Ability to work quickly and efficiently
- Highly organized
Chef Garde Average Wage: $15.00 - $18.00
Maître D’
Job Description: Similar to a host or hostess, the maître d’ is the first face customers see when they enter a fine dining establishment. Maître d’s must arrange reservations and seat guests, but are also responsible for management duties in the dining room, including creating a schedule for the wait staff. The maître d’ ensures customer satisfaction above all, making it an extremely important part of any fine dining experience.
Maître D’ Job Requirements:
- Patience
- Excellent people skills
- Calm under pressure
- Highly organized
Maître D’ Average Wage: $15.00 - $29.00
Sommelier
Job Description: A sommelier is a necessity in any fine eatery that serves wine. A sommelier recommends pairings to guests and servers, creates wine menus, and purchases wine.
Sommelier Job Requirements:
- Formal education and experience is usually required
- Excellent memory
- Excellent people skills
Sommelier Average Wage: $22.00 - $36.00
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Employing a first-rate staff will keep your restaurant running smoothly and your guests happy. No matter what type of foodservice establishment you operate you can use this restaurant positions and job descriptions list to guide you through all of your hiring decisions. Hiring the correct amount and type of staff will make it easier for your restaurant to operate, paving the way for future success and growth.
