Buspersons

Career summary

Buspersons may also be called dining room attendants.

#from WOIS 7888 Buspersons

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Buspersons set tables with dishes, napkins, silverware, glassware, and condiments. They make sure that dining areas are stocked with enough of these items so that they can be replaced as necessary.

Buspersons who work in restaurants walk through the dining area and refill glasses of water and cups of coffee. When the meal is finished, they clear dishes, silverware, and glasses. They wipe tables and reset the table for the next party. Buspersons may also help waiters and waitresses serve large orders. They provide basic service when the waiter or waitress is unavailable.

Buspersons who work in cafeterias do the same duties as those who work in restaurants. They also stock serving counters and keep them clean. They make sure there are enough serving trays. They may help customers take trays to their tables. Sometimes they run cash registers.

Related careers

This career is part of the Hospitality and Tourism cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Baggage Porters and Bellhops
• Counter Attendants
• Fast Food Cooks
• Food Preparation Workers
• Kitchen Helpers
• Maids and Housekeepers
• Restaurant Hosts
• Short-Order Cooks
• Ushers and Ticket Takers
• Waiters and Waitresses

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to buspersons.

• Keep work area and equipment clean.
• Move through dining room, serving water or coffee.
• Make sure there are enough clean linens, silverware, glassware, and dishes in the dining room.
• Carry dirty dishes to kitchen and wipe tables and seats with clean, damp cloth.
• Set tables with clean linens, silverware, glassware, and dishes.
• Keep trays and dispensers stocked with food, water, and ice.
• Place food on serving counter so customers can see it.
• Carry trays of food from food counter to tables.
• Clean up spilled food, drink, and broken dishes.
• May run cash registers or serve food when servers are busy.
• May garnish food and arrange food on tables.
• Fill beverage or ice dispensers.

Common work activities

Buspersons perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Perform for or work with the public
• Get information needed to do the job
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Handle and move objects
• Teach others
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Assist and care for others
• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Convince others to buy goods or change their minds or actions
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, buspersons:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a very high level of job-required social interaction. They constantly talk to customers, servers, and supervisors.
• Usually work as part of a group of servers and buspersons.
• Talk with customers face to face and on the telephone.
• May occasionally deal with unpleasant or upset customers.
• Are somewhat responsible for the health and safety of diners.
• Are responsible for the work done by other buspersons.

Physical work conditions

• Always work indoors. However, if weather permits, buspersons may work outside clearing tables in patio or outdoor dining areas.
• Sometimes wear a special uniform required by the restaurant or cafeteria.
• May occasionally wear protective attire, such as aprons and hair nets.
• Occasionally are exposed to noisy kitchens and distracting sound levels, especially during busy times.
• May work physically close to customers and other buspersons.

Work performance

• Repeat the same physical activities, such as carrying, clearing, and serving food.
• Usually make decisions and set daily tasks and goals independently. They talk with supervisors from time to time, however.

Hours/travel

• May work part time or full time.
• May work days, nights, evenings, or weekends.

Physical demands

Buspersons frequently:

• Stand for long periods of time.
• Walk or run for long periods of time.
• Repeat the same movements.
• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.

It is important for buspersons to be able to:

• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for buspersons to be able to:

• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Move arms and legs quickly.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.

Skills and abilities

Buspersons need to:

Reason and problem solve

• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.

Work with people

• Look for ways to help people.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study to consider

• Food Services

Training

To work as a busperson, you typically need to:

• complete short-term, on-the-job training.

Education after high school

No formal education is required for this job. However, many employers prefer that you have a high school diploma or its equivalent.

On-the-job training

Almost all buspersons learn their skills on the job from an experienced worker. Training includes:

• how to clean and set up tables;
• customer service skills; and
• orientation to restaurant policies.

After training, another worker may supervise your work. On-the job training generally lasts up to one month.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Food and Nutrition
• Food Service
• Hospitality
• Physical Education

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers prefer, but do not require, that buspersons have a high school diploma or equivalent. Employers look for buspersons who make a good impression for the business. Thus, buspersons should be neat and clean-looking. Employers also look for workers who are organized and efficient.

Costs to workers

Some buspersons may be required to join a union and pay an initiation fee and monthly dues.

Licensing/certification

Many counties require buspersons to have a food worker card. To receive a card, workers must pass a written examination and pay a $10 fee. The initial card is valid for two years. After that period, cards must be renewed every three years.

For more information on food worker cards, contact your local county health department listed in the county government section of your phone book. You may also find more information at the Washington Department of Health's Food Worker Card page. 

#OK 2/16/18 cj. nc 3/26/19

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

The minimum wage for Washington State as of January 1, 2020 is $13.50 per hour. Some areas of the state may have a higher minimum wage.

In some restaurants, higher-paid employees, such as waiters, waitresses, and bartenders, contribute a portion of their tips to a tip pool. Employees such as buspersons may increase their earnings by receiving a portion of this tip pool. Buspersons sometimes receive a portion of tips left for waiters and waitresses.

Buspersons who work full time may receive benefits. Typical benefits include paid vacation, sick leave, and health insurance.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Half of all buspersons work in restaurants.

Major employers:

• Full-service restaurants
• Fast food restaurants
• Schools

National outlook

Demand for this occupation is very strong. The highest job growth is occurring in places that serve food but are not restaurants such as senior living facilities, hospitals, and schools. Job growth in fast food restaurants will remain strong. Other types of restaurants and cafeterias will experience smaller growth.

This job has low pay and high physical demands. As a result, there are many entry-level job opportunities.

Other resources

Hospitality Careers Online 

National Restaurant Association 
2055 L Street NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
800.424.5156
202.331.5900

UNITE HERE 
275 - 7th Avenue, 16th Floor
New York, NY 10001
212.265.7000

Washington Hospitality Association 
510 Plum Street SE, Suite 200
Olympia, WA 98501
800.225.7166
360.956.7279

References

Career cluster

• Hospitality and Tourism

Career path

• Realistic (Technical)

O*Net  occupation

• Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers (35-9011.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 1 - Little or no preparation needed. No previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

DOT occupations

• Bartender Helper (312.687-010) 
• Cafeteria Attendant (311.677-010) 
• Counter-supply Worker (319.687-010) 
• Dining Room Attendant (311.677-018) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Realistic/Conventional/Social

COPSystem

• Service Skilled