Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
Sample of reported job titles:
Banquet Server, Buffet Server, Cocktail Server, Food Runner, Food Server, Restaurant Server, Server, Waiter, Waitress, Waitstaff
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Tasks
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Take orders from patrons for food or beverages.
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Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals, and take action to correct any problems.
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Check patrons' identification to ensure that they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages.
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Collect payments from customers.
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Write patrons' food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff.
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Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes.
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Present menus to patrons and answer questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request.
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Remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters, and take them to kitchen for cleaning.
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Serve food or beverages to patrons, and prepare or serve specialty dishes at tables as required.
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Clean tables or counters after patrons have finished dining.
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Prepare tables for meals, including setting up items such as linens, silverware, and glassware.
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Explain how various menu items are prepared, describing ingredients and cooking methods.
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Assist host or hostess by answering phones to take reservations or to-go orders, and by greeting, seating, and thanking guests.
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Escort customers to their tables.
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Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping and mopping floors, vacuuming carpet, tidying up server station, taking out trash, or checking and cleaning bathroom.
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Inform customers of daily specials.
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Prepare hot, cold, and mixed drinks for patrons, and chill bottles of wine.
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Roll silverware, set up food stations, or set up dining areas to prepare for the next shift or for large parties.
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Stock service areas with supplies such as coffee, food, tableware, and linens.
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Bring wine selections to tables with appropriate glasses, and pour the wines for customers.
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Fill salt, pepper, sugar, cream, condiment, and napkin containers.
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Describe and recommend wines to customers.
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Perform food preparation duties, such as preparing salads, appetizers, and cold dishes, portioning desserts, and brewing coffee.
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Provide guests with information about local areas, including directions.
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Garnish and decorate dishes in preparation for serving.
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Technology Skills
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Instant messaging software — Blink
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Point of sale POS software — Compris Advanced Manager's Workstation; Hospitality Control Solutions Aloha Point-of-Sale; Intuit QuickBooks Point of Sale; NCR Advanced Checkout Solution
; 4 more
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Web page creation and editing software — Facebook
Hot Technologies are requirements most frequently included across all employer job postings.
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Work Activities
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Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
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Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
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Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
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Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
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Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
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Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
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Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
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Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
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Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
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Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
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Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
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Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
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Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
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Selling or Influencing Others — Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
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Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
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Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
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Detailed Work Activities
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Communicate with customers to resolve complaints or ensure satisfaction.
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Enforce rules or regulations.
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Process customer bills or payments.
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Communicate dining or order details to kitchen personnel.
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Present food or beverage information or menus to customers.
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Collect dirty dishes or other tableware.
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Arrange tables or dining areas.
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Clean food service areas.
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Assist customers with seating arrangements.
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Schedule dining reservations.
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Clean food preparation areas, facilities, or equipment.
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Prepare hot or cold beverages.
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Stock serving stations or dining areas with food or supplies.
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Prepare foods for cooking or serving.
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Provide customers with general information or assistance.
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Work Context
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Contact With Others — 89% responded “Constant contact with others.”
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Spend Time Walking and Running — 82% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
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Spend Time Standing — 79% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
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Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 73% responded “Every day.”
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Physical Proximity — 51% responded “Moderately close (at arm's length).”
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Face-to-Face Discussions — 64% responded “Every day.”
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Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 40% responded “Extremely important.”
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Work With Work Group or Team — 39% responded “Extremely important.”
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Deal With External Customers — 55% responded “Extremely important.”
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Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions — 39% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
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Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls — 61% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
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Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People — 43% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
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Coordinate or Lead Others — 43% responded “Extremely important.”
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Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 37% responded “Very important results.”
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Telephone — 49% responded “Every day.”
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Importance of Repeating Same Tasks — 32% responded “Important.”
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Frequency of Decision Making — 45% responded “Every day.”
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Responsible for Others' Health and Safety — 31% responded “Moderate responsibility.”
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Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — 50% responded “Every day.”
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Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body — 30% responded “Less than half the time.”
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Level of Competition — 39% responded “Moderately competitive.”
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Job Zone
- Title
- Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
- Related Experience
- Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
- Job Training
- Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
- Job Zone Examples
- These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, tellers, and dental laboratory technicians.
- SVP Range
- 3 months to 1 year of preparation (4.0 to < 6.0)
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Training & Credentials
- State training
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- Local training
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- Certifications
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- State licenses
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- Apprenticeships
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Have a career path or location in mind? Visit Apprenticeship.gov
external site to find apprenticeship opportunities near you.
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Skills
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Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
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Service Orientation — Actively looking for ways to help people.
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Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
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Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
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Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
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Knowledge
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Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
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English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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Sales and Marketing — Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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Food Production — Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
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Education
How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation? Respondents said:
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Abilities
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Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
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Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
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Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
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Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
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Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
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Time Sharing — The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).
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Arm-Hand Steadiness — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
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Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
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Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
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Selective Attention — The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
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Stamina — The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
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Trunk Strength — The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
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Interests
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Social — Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
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Enterprising — Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
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Conventional — Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
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Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
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Work Values
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Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
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Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
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Achievement — Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
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Work Styles
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Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
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Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
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Self-Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
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Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
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Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
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Social Orientation — Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
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Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
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Concern for Others — Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
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Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
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Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
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Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
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Independence — Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
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Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
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Leadership — Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
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Wages & Employment Trends
- Median wages (2021)
- $12.50 hourly, $26,000 annual
- State wages
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- Local wages
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- Employment (2021)
- 1,904,400 employees
- Projected growth (2021-2031)
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Faster than average (8% to 10%)
- Projected job openings (2021-2031)
- 425,800
- State trends
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- Top industries (2021)
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Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2021 wage data
external site and 2021-2031 employment projections
external site.
“Projected growth” represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2021-2031). “Projected job openings” represent openings due to growth and replacement.
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Job Openings on the Web
- State job openings
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- Local job openings
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