How long does it take to become a Banquet Server?

It takes 2 years of professional experience to become a banquet server. That is the time it takes to learn specific banquet server skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.

How To Become A Banquet Server: What It Is and Career Path

What is a banquet server and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A banquet server works in the hospitality industry, specifically at events and banquets. They set up tables, serve food and drinks, and ensure a positive guest experience. Banquet servers work with planners to ensure a smooth and successful event. They must communicate effectively with guests, handle multiple tasks at once, and be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. A banquet server must also have knowledge of proper etiquette andanticipate the needs of guests.

ScoreBanquet ServerUS Average

Salary

2.3

Avg. Salary $29,017

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

6.2

Growth Rate 10%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.79%

Asian 7.88%

Black or African American 11.57%

Hispanic or Latino 19.74%

Unknown 5.56%

White 54.46%

Gender

female 62.46%

male 37.54%

Age - 25

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 25

Stress Level

6.2

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

6.1

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

10.0

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Banquet Server?

Pros

Tips can be lucrative
Flexible scheduling
Free meals while on the job
Opportunity to work at unique and upscale events
Opportunity for advancement within the company

Cons

Long hours on your feet
Physically demanding job, with heavy lifting required
Can be high-pressure, with little room for error
May require working late nights, weekends, and holidays
May require wearing uncomfortable clothing or shoes for long periods of time

Key steps to become a banquet server

Explore banquet server education requirements

Most common banquet server degrees

Bachelor's

40.7 %

High School Diploma

26.5 %

Associate

20.7 %

Start to develop specific banquet server skills

Skills	Percentages
Wine	11.59%
Cleanliness	10.07%
Food Service	9.07%
Customer Service	5.71%
Professional Appearance	5.47%

Complete relevant banquet server training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New banquet servers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a banquet server based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real banquet server resumes.

Research banquet server duties and responsibilities

Provide professional bartending and hospitality services to optimize customer service experiences for private, corporate, and public events.
Create PowerPoint food presentations for training purposes.
Gain skills in customer dining service, hospitality and compassion.
Analyze BEOs to ensure rooms are prepare each day for schedule events.

Prepare your banquet server resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your banquet server resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a banquet server resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Banquet Server Resume templates

Build a professional Banquet Server resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Banquet Server resume.

Apply for banquet server jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a banquet server job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do banquet servers rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Banquet Server reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020

Cons

Many restaurants are corporate or franchisees, and they dont really have good management, which leads to not hiring people on skill, but just to fill the space, which leads to high turn over rates for both FOH, BOH and management. There's no stability