Wait Staff Jobs in Portage, MI

Wait Staff, also known as servers, are integral to the Hospitality Service industry as they are primarily responsible for serving food and beverages to customers, taking orders, and providing excellent customer service in restaurants, cafes, and other food-service establishments. Their tasks include handling cash transactions, cleaning tables, answering customer inquiries about the menu, and ensuring that the food service area is clean and well-stocked. They are the face of the establishment, as they directly interact with customers, making them crucial in maintaining the restaurant's reputation and overall guest experience.

Essential skills for Wait Staff include strong communication, ability to work under pressure, customer service skills, physical stamina, and multitasking. They must also have a good memory to remember orders and the layout of the tables. No specific certifications are generally needed, but having a Food Handler's Card or ServSafe certification can be beneficial, while some upscale restaurants might require formal training or a degree in hospitality or a related field. Before becoming a Wait Staffer, a person may have roles such as Host or Hostess, Busser, or Food Runner. These positions allow individuals to gain experience in the food service environment and customer service, preparing them for a server position.

1-15 of 83 Jobs

Prepared Food Team Member

  • Battle Creek, MI (24 miles from Portage, MI)
  • 1 day ago
  • Battle Creek, MI (24 miles from Portage, MI)
  • 1 day ago

... Do you have a knack for helping people, following recipes, and organization? Our prepared meal and rotisserie chicken associates prepare fresh food items daily for our members through...

Carhop/ Skating Carhop (server)

  • Portage, MI
  • 3 days ago
  • Portage, MI
  • 3 days ago

Position: Carhop Immediate Supervisor: Manager on Duty (MOD) Status: Nonexempt Position Summary: This position serves product to guests. Essential Job Duties: Ensure that product meets...

barista - Store# 49793, WESTNEDGE & RUTH

  • Portage, MI
  • 6 days ago
  • Portage, MI
  • 6 days ago

Join us and inspire with every cup!** At Starbucks, it's all about connection. People are at the heart of who we are, especially the people that are a part of our store team. We connect with each...

Restaurant Team Member

  • Oshtemo, MI (7 miles from Portage, MI)
  • 9 days ago
  • Oshtemo, MI (7 miles from Portage, MI)
  • 9 days ago

Pay is up to $17.00 an hour. Includes TIPS (Average Tips per Hour is $4.00-$5.00) Plus, get a Free Interview Meal* About You You're awesome. You make an impression wherever you go. You don't want...

Juice Barista Part Time

  • Battle Creek, MI (24 miles from Portage, MI)
  • 9 days ago
  • Battle Creek, MI (24 miles from Portage, MI)
  • 9 days ago

Job Posting Overview Weekly Pay Flexible Schedule Fun Work Environment Career Advancement Opportunities Online and/or on-the-job training This part time associate produces, bottles/packages, and...

Cafe Associate

  • Plainwell, MI (19 miles from Portage, MI)
  • 9 days ago
  • Plainwell, MI (19 miles from Portage, MI)
  • 9 days ago

... Why do people love eating in our cafe at Sams Club? Our members tell us one of the biggest reasons is our hard-working and happy-to-help cafe associates. Do you have a passion for preparing...

Starbucks Barista - Full Time Lead

  • Kalamazoo, MI (5 miles from Portage, MI)
  • 10 days ago
  • Kalamazoo, MI (5 miles from Portage, MI)
  • 10 days ago

At SpartanNash, we deliver the ingredients for a better life through customer-focused innovation. We do this for our supply chain customers and U.S. military commissaries, retail store guests and,...

Food Service Cook/Cashier-Gull Lake Community Schools

  • Kalamazoo, MI (5 miles from Portage, MI)
  • 11 days ago
  • Kalamazoo, MI (5 miles from Portage, MI)
  • 11 days ago

Position Type: Additional Staff/ Food Service Date Posted: 4/8/2025 Location: High School District:   Gull Lake Community Schools    Attachment(s): 2425-170 HS Food Service...

Jonny's Market Cashier (3rd Shift) - 1223 W. Michigan

  • Three Rivers, MI (15 miles from Portage, MI)
  • 12 days ago
  • Three Rivers, MI (15 miles from Portage, MI)
  • 12 days ago

$14.50-16.50/hour Morning, noon, and night, we rely on our team of Crew Members to be the face of Johnny's. We count on you to take great care of our customers, making them glad they stopped in...

Team Member

  • Portage, MI
  • 14 days ago
  • Portage, MI
  • 14 days ago

What began as an idea between two brothers to open a Mexican restaurant has since grown into one of the largest, privately held Taco Bell franchisees in America. At Border Foods, we work with a...

Server: Pt PM/Weekend

  • Kalamazoo, MI (5 miles from Portage, MI)
  • 16 days ago
  • Kalamazoo, MI (5 miles from Portage, MI)
  • 16 days ago

Apply Job Type Part-time Description Server Job Description Job Title: Server Schedule: Part Time Evenings/Weekends Reports to: Dining Manager/Executive Chef FLSA Status: Non-Exempt Position...

To Go Specialist

  • Battle Creek, MI (24 miles from Portage, MI)
  • 16 days ago
  • Battle Creek, MI (24 miles from Portage, MI)
  • 16 days ago

Overview Why You Want to Work Here: We offer weekly pay and competitive wages Flexible scheduling Options for medical, dental and vision starting at less than $10/week Life insurance, short-term...

Server

  • Portage, MI
  • 21 days ago
  • Portage, MI
  • 21 days ago

Overview Why You Want to Work Here: We offer weekly pay and competitive wages Flexible scheduling Options for medical, dental and vision starting at less than $10/week Life insurance, short-term...

Busser/Runner

  • Portage, MI
  • 21 days ago
  • Portage, MI
  • 21 days ago

Overview Why You Want to Work Here: We offer weekly pay and competitive wages Flexible scheduling Options for medical, dental and vision starting at less than $10/week Life insurance, short-term...

Assisted Living Morning Server

  • Kalamazoo, MI (5 miles from Portage, MI)
  • 21 days ago
  • Kalamazoo, MI (5 miles from Portage, MI)
  • 21 days ago

When you work at Friendship Village, you have a front-row seat to the amazing life stories of the wisest people on earth. What's more, you are part of an extraordinary company - one that's...

Demographic Data for Portage, MI

Moving to Portage, MI? Find some basic demographic data about Portage, MI below.


Local
National
49,885
1,430
Medium

Wait Staff Online Courses and Training Opportunities

iHireHospitalityServices curates thousands of courses in order to recommend the best ones to help further your career. If you register for a course using the links on our site, we may receive a small commission.
Leading Well for Staff Health and Wellbeing in the NHS
The health and wellbeing of NHS staff is essential to the quality of care provided to patients, service users and communities. The Covid-19 pandemic placed unprecedented pressures on the health...
Prison Health: Vaccinations for People Working and Living in Prisons (Vaccine Trained Staff)
This two-week course will help you gain an understanding of why vaccines can help protect the health of those living or working in prisons and those around them. Whats more, youll develop the...
Wait: The Art and Science of Delay
What do these scenarios have in common: a professional tennis player returning a serve, a woman evaluating a first date across the table, a naval officer assessing a threat to his ship and a...

Salary for Wait Staff Jobs in Portage, MI

Estimated salary range based on data from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and iHireHospitalityServices research efforts.

Licensing / Certification

Required or preferred licenses and certifications for Wait Staff positions.



Highest Education Level

Wait Staffs in Portage, MI offer the following education background
High School or GED
41.6%
Bachelor's Degree
20.9%
Associate's Degree
13.0%
Vocational Degree or Certification
12.7%
Master's Degree
3.9%
Some College
3.8%
Some High School
3.1%
Doctorate Degree
0.9%

Average Work Experience
Here's a breakdown of the number of years' experience offered by Wait Staffs in Portage, MI
Less than 1 year
34.0%
None
24.3%
1-2 years
24.0%
2-4 years
17.8%


Other Career Titles

Here are some other career titles that require similar skills



Wait Staff Related Career Advice Articles

Empty glasses hanging in a restaurant
Must-Read Job Search Advice for Restaurant Workers

Learn the ins and outs of how to get a job at a restaurant, including when to turn in your resume, how to present yourself, and how to land the job.

Read article »