Better Job: Restaurant Hostess or Server?
Asked by shibz0r
I need a job this summer where i can work a lot of hours and make a lot of money. My family just moved to New Jersey and we're by a few restaurants: Chili's, Houlihan's, and Macaroni Grill. My question is, what is the better job? My brother used to bus at a restaurant and made almost $70 in tips. Do hostesses usually get a cut of tips? Also, do they have the ~$2 wage like servers? I recently had a retail/customer service job where I had to work with horrible angry customers all day, and I'm dreading repeating this as a waitress. But is it worth putting up with people for the tips? Or would I make just about the same money as a hostess?? Thanks!

Best Answer:
Some places require servers to tip out the bussers, hostesses and bar. I used to serve at Outback, where the hostesses got a small hourly wage + a tip out, but that didn't amount to much! If you are old enough, you should be a server. You will make a lot more! Yeah, putting up with rude customers really sucks, but it's worth it. Try Macaroni Grill--you'll make lots of money there, and you don't get the ratio of rude people at nicer places. If you are just doing it for the summer, you can definetly deal! Good luck!
Years of experience!
Answered by ky-ky

I think a hostess just gets paid a single sum and doesn't get a share of the tips. ANd the waiters and waitressess will sometimes get paid and keep the tips for themselves and sometimes they make good money. But sometimes you do ahve to put up with rude customers but at teh end of the day it's worth it. Also in some places they get paid and all the tips go in a jar and in the end of teh shift they all get their equal share. But hey if you can get a secretary job it would be better hours and better money.
Answered by Always ready for anything

Well, if you were a hostess, you wouldn't get tips, but as a hostess you only have to deal with the people for a few minutes. As a waitress you would have to deal with them until they leave .
Answered by Jacqueline M

You need a lot of money and a lot of hours so a waitress job is the way to go. Pick a busy chain restaurant that you know stays busy and work there. Be willing to pick up crappy shifts to get in good with the manager so you can get the better shifts as well. Hostesses make minimum wage or better with no tips. It is a very boring job. Waitresses make the smaller hourly wage plus tips! If you make your customers happy and don't ignore them you will make good tips. Another option is to work at a nice restaurant within a hotel as well. They usually have huge dinner or brunch crowds. Also try room service at a big busy hotel near an airport. I made killing at one in high school and only worked from 5:30 AM till about 2 PM. I cleared over $500 every two weeks just working Saturday and Sunday mornings. Good luck!
Answered by JobSearchWiz

no, hostess does not get a cut of the tips i was a server off and on for 6 yrs it makes good money treat people how you would want to be treated get good in your job and you could make more than some exec.
Answered by claire w

I work at a Roadhouse Grill as a hostess, and myself and the other hostesses get a share of the tips. And we need them! My salary is only $4.50/hour, same as the servers, yet we get much smaller tip shares. 2% of the tips income for the day is split up between the 3-6 hostesses that were on in that particular day. We aren't the most popular steakhouse, but we still stay fairly busy, especially on weekends. I don't get very much in tips though. I usually take home an average of $12-30 from the previous shift. If you are trying to decide between being a hostess or waitress, I would recommend being a hostess, especially if you are worried about people bitching at you. People complain a lot, but as a hostess, you can pass complaints on to the waiters and managers, because you are not expected to deal with things like that. At least not where I work. Of course people still complain to me, but it's my job to be helpful and friendly so I just keep a good attitude and guide them toward someone else. I don't have time to deal with that when I have guests to seat and tables to set up.
Answered by Megan D