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Skilled Trades

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

Serve food to individuals outside of a restaurant environment, such as in hotel rooms, hospital rooms, residential care facilities, or cars.

Median salary (BLS)

$35,360

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$28k – $46k

Job outlook

+3% (about average)

AI exposure

Plan a path to Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

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Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Food Servers, Nonrestaurant" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

    Entry / Junior

    $28,030

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

    Established

    $35,360

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

    Senior

    $40,740

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Place food servings on plates or trays according to orders or instructions.
  • •Clean or sterilize dishes, kitchen utensils, equipment, or facilities.
  • •Monitor food distribution, ensuring that meals are delivered to the correct recipients and that guidelines, such as those for special diets, are followed.
  • •Examine trays to ensure that they contain required items.
  • •Load trays with accessories, such as eating utensils, napkins, or condiments.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Skilled Trades

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.