Waiters and waitresses take orders and serve food and drinks to customers in restaurants. They guide guests through the menu, handle problems and keep tables moving. Generative AI is a small part of the story here. Ordering kiosks and carryout are the bigger change.
The short answer: self-service technology is trimming demand, but openings stay huge. The ILO's 2025 index rates waiters at minimal exposure with a score of 0.28. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2 percent growth for waiters and waitresses from 2025 to 2035, slower than average, with about 423,100 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed waiters are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters | Minimal exposure | 0.28 |
The ILO index measures generative AI, not robots or automated machines.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and waitresses | Grow 2% | About 423,100 |
The BLS says reduced need for these workers is expected because of more self-service technology, such as kiosks that let customers order and pay, and more carryout. Most openings will come from replacing workers who move on or retire.
What automation is taking on
- Order taking and payment through kiosks, tablets and phone apps.
- Carryout and delivery orders that never reach a server.
- Reservations and waitlists handled by software.
What stays with waiters
- Hospitality: reading a table and making guests feel looked after.
- Recommendations: steering guests to dishes and drinks, which also lifts the check.
- Problem solving: fixing a wrong order or an unhappy guest on the spot.
- Allergies and safety: passing allergy needs to the kitchen correctly.
- Checking AI help: a menu chatbot can give wrong ingredient or allergy answers, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Quick and casual places are moving ordering to screens, while full-service dining still depends on people. Servers who sell well and handle guests calmly stay in demand. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace bartenders?, will AI replace fast food workers? and will AI replace restaurant managers?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for waiters and waitresses at $35,230 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: no formal educational credential. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace waiters?
Not on current projections. The BLS projects 2 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, though it says kiosks and carryout reduce the need for servers.
How exposed are waiters to AI?
The ILO rates waiters at minimal exposure, with a score of 0.28.
How many openings are expected?
About 423,100 a year on average over the decade, mostly from replacing workers, according to the BLS.
What technology affects waiters most?
The BLS points to self-service technology, such as kiosks that let customers order and pay, and to carryout.