Did you know that being a restaurant server can be a lucrative side job? The majority of people working in this field get paid measly hourly wages from the food establishments, but the people they serve provide them with tips that cover 90% of what they make from that job. Think about it, if you have a great personality and do not mind serving others then you can become a restaurant server as well. Many people who have worked in the food industry will dumb down the potential of what they make in a given night, but if you look at the numbers then you can clearly see that some of them are making some above average income.
Making Side Money as a Restaurant Server:
Typically works a shift of 5-6 hours
During those hours only about 4 hours are dedicated to busy time serving others
For every hour you can manage to serve 4 tables
4X4 = 16 clients paying you a tip
The average tip at a restaurant is about 10-30 dollars (Depends on the size of the group)
16 tables X 20 dollars = 320 dollars in 1 night. (Median)
320 x 3 nights = 960 dollars
Now imagine you work Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the evenings. That is a cool grand every weekend just for doing a side money job. Add this to the regular full time job you already have and you could easily make 100 grand a year. What I fail to discuss with you today is the tax implications behind how to report tip money. I will not bore you with those details, but as always you would need to consult with an accountant to see if you are in compliance with the tax codes.
I just want you to realize by looking at the numbers that being a restaurant server might not be as bad as you might think. The one down side that could be a blessing in disguise is that you have to stay on your feet for the entire shift. One thing that I have to throw into the mix is that you might have a slow night from time to time and it will affect your tip money total, but if the restaurant has a great reputation then this is not a factor.
Just imagine if you average 30 dollars per tip? Your daily total will be about 480 dollars a night if you serve 16 tables. Now that is some serious bank.
Comment if you are making side money as a restaurant server?
Comment if you have worked as a restaurant server and the figures are accurate?
Rich Uncle EL
Being a waiter or waitress can be lucrative but it is also hard work! But definitely a good way to make some side income and if you can invest it responsibly – you fall under the category of hard working and smart!
I can only imagine moneycone. I would like to get feed back from a person who is working as a waiter. I got the stats from the internet and my own experience being a tipping customer. Thanks for the comment.