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National Waitstaff Day: May 21, 2023

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National Waitstaff Day: May 21, 2023

May 21, 2023

Press Release Number CB23-SFS.73

From U.S. Census Bureau > Library > Profile America > National Waitstaff Day (2021):

Friday, May 21st. Today is the day to add a little extra to the tip you leave at a restaurant that happens to be open — it’s National Waitstaff Day.

The occasion is one for expressing appreciation for the many dedicated servers who make dining out a pleasurable and recurring experience, when available. From small diners and bars, up to fancy five-star restaurants, before the pandemic there were more than 579,000 eating and drinking places operating nationwide.

Until recently, almost $600 billion was spent in these establishments, which employed more than 11 million workers. Prior to the pandemic, our orders were taken, and food and beverages served, by some 2.1 million waitstaff, nearly seven out of 10 of whom were women.

Key Stats

Source: 2021 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates.

Table B24010, Sex by Occupation for the Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over

Table B24010, Sex by Occupation for the Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over (Male)

Table B24010, Sex by Occupation for the Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over (Female)

Note: We modified the table above to focus on food occupations and highlighted the rows for male and female waiters and waitresses. Click on either image for the full table.

The tables below lists median earnings for the full-time, civilian employed population and the number of full-time employed.

More Stats

Source: Monthly Retail Trade and Food Services: 1992 to 2023, U.S. Total — Sales - Monthly.

Source: 2021 County Business Patterns (CBP).

Table CB2100CBP, All Sectors: County Business Patterns, including ZIP Code Business Patterns, by Legal Form of Organization and Employment Size Class for U.S., States, and Selected Geographies: 2021, featuring these 4 Codes:

NAICS 722, Food Services and Drinking Places
NAICS 7224, Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
NAICS 7225, Restaurants and Other Eating Places
NAICS 722511, Full-Service Restaurants

Source: 2021 Service Annual Survey (SAS) and administrative data.

Table 1: Estimated Revenue for Employer and Nonemployer Firms: 2013 through 2021, notice NAICS 722, Food Services and Drinking Places

Source: 2019 Annual Business Survey (ABS) Program.

Table AB1900CSA01, Annual Business Survey: Statistics for Employer Firms by Industry, Sex, Ethnicity, Race, and Veteran Status for the U.S., States, Metro Areas, Counties, and Places: 2019, notice NAICS 722, Food Services and Drinking Places

Source: 2019 Nonemployer Statistics (NES).

Table NS1900NONEMP, All Sectors: Nonemployer Statistics for the U.S., States, Counties, Metropolitan Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas; and by Legal Form of Organization and Sales, Value of Shipments, or Revenue Size for Selected Geographies: 2019, notice NAICS 722511, Full-Service Restaurants

Source: 2017 Economic Census.

Table EC1772BASIC, Accommodation and Food Services: Summary Statistics for the U.S., States, and Selected Geographies: 2017, showing NAICS 72, Accommodation and Food Services, and the 4 Codes listed above

From the Library / America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers:

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Page Last Revised - May 16, 2023

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