A restaurant busser is a key member of the house staff responsible for supporting servers and is a crucial role in maintaining customer satisfaction especially during busy periods.
Bussers are often tasked with clearing dirty dishes from tables, putting down clean utensils, and keeping the overall dining area clean for smooth operations. It is an essential skill to have because a restaurant's goal is to provide a pleasant dining experience and it is not possible with dirty tables.
Typical duties and key responsibilities of a busser include:
- Clearing dirty plates, dirty water glasses, and dirty utensils
- Resetting tables and silverware after guests depart
- Wiping down table surfaces, chairs, and any surrounding areas
- Maintaining quick table turnover rates
- Assisting with minor requests from customers such as bringing beverages to tables and providing napkins for the table
- Refilling water glasses filled at all times
A busser's hourly wage can range between $9 to $16, which is around an average salary of $19,000 to $36,000 annually. The difference in salary is due to the pace of your restaurant and the type of restaurant.
Although this might seem hardly enough, the tips each night exponentially increases the average busser salary, sometimes even by 100% depending on the type of restaurant and if you are in a fast-paced environment.
Bussers are often paired with a few servers for each night and generally, servers are to give their bussers a percentage of their nightly tip as a thank you for the assistance.
Good bussers are easily detectable to a restaurant manager because they keep the flow of the restaurant moving in a graceful manner, without disrupting any part of the dining experience.
They do all their duties quietly and efficiently, and have a deep understanding how and where everything should go. They are quick to anticipate the needs of everyone from the servers they are aiding to the guests they are assigned to.
Efficient service is at the top of a busser responsibility list and is an essential skill to possess for food service establishments.
A good busser works quickly and effectively clearing tables, resetting them, and keeping the dining area in top shape, especially during busy times for a consistently comfortable dining experience for guests.
Although attention to detail is not a core responsibility, only bussers with this skill set can last in the hospitality industry.
Bussers are the ones to keep the restaurant running smoothly without being noticed so noticing the small details, like crumbs on tables, missing items, or low supplies, will help keep a busy restaurant looking and functioning at its best.
Bussers work closely with restaurant staff including servers, hosts, and kitchen staff.
A good busser has excellent and effective communication skills and anticipates the needs of others to keep the restaurant running smoothly. Communication with servers is key to provide the best assistance to your server at all times.
Although a busser does not directly interact or serve the customers, having excellent customer service skills is vital to working in a customer facing environment like a restaurant.
A busser should always be looking to better the customer experience and by being courteous and approachable to guests, you can keep customers happy.
Bussing requires a lot of moving, lifting, and cleaning so physical stamina is of the utmost importance so that bussers can keep up with the pace, especially during peak hours and extended periods.
A good busser, and all successful restaurant professionals, always remains calm, patient, and positive, even under pressure.
This attitude towards personnel and customers boosts morale and contributes to a welcoming environment for guests.
Multitasking is essential in this role.
A good busser is able to manage tasks effectively, ensuring tables are set and ready for the new ones without delays and always maintaining smooth operations and customer satisfaction.
Consistency and punctuality are key. A dependable busser allows for smoother shifts and a consistent experience for new and returning guests.
Restaurants can be unpredictable, so a good busser is flexible and always ready to adjust to changes, whether it’s a sudden rush or a unique guest request.
Food safety is vital to running a restaurant and everyone in the restaurant team needs to know, understand, and meet all the food safety rules and safety standards.
Busser jobs are quite an accessible job opportunity for people with little experience or education. It requires a combination of basic skills, ones that you can learn over time if you put in the effort and have a strong work ethic.
1. Meet basic requirements for age and physical readiness
2. Develop key skills such as communication, teamwork, and attention to detail
3. Have a basic resume even if you lack experience (include volunteer work, part time jobs, or anything that can show off hard and soft skills )
4. Apply to restaurants either online or in person
5. Be prepared for the interview with enthusiasm, reliability, a willingness to learn, and an appropriate outfit
Busser job descriptions are often quite nonrestrictive so just having an open mind, a good attitude, and a willingness to work is key.
Since bussing does not require any degree or diploma, it is a entry level position that any one can take on. With the necessary skills and experience, there are opportunities to move up ranks and take on more customer facing roles in the restaurant or positions in the kitchen if desired.
Starting at as a busser gives you lots of space to grow and if you have enough dedication and are open minded, there is always an opportunity to advance in the restaurant industry.
1. Show reliability always
2. Ask for extra work or responsibilities
3. Maintain a good relationship with your manager and fellow restaurant staff
4. Get more qualifications such as going to cookery school, getting a wine certification, or attending a hospitality course
5. Perfect the busser job responsibilities
1. Write a clear busser job description with clear outline of responsibilities and expectations and post them on all relevant job posting sites
2. Screen resumes for relevant qualities
3. Conduct interviews that focus on key hard and soft skills and ask for a trial shift
4. Evaluate for a team culture fit including values, ethics, and attitude
5. Provide clear onboarding training guidelines and expectations
6. Offer incentives and growth opportunities to encourage long term employee retention rates
7. Gather feedback from staff during and after the hiring process to keep track of the candidate's performance
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