Waiter in Austria: pay, duties, how to apply

As a waiter or waitress in Austria you advise guests, take orders, serve and take payment. With a completed apprenticeship as a restaurant specialist you earn at least €2,232.00 gross per month in Tyrol, Salzburg and Vorarlberg from 1 October 2026; as a service helper at least €2,096.50. Many jobs are fixed-term for the winter or summer season.

Key facts at a glance

Pay with apprenticeship: From €2,232.00 gross/month (Tyrol, Salzburg, Vorarlberg, Carinthia, Styria), from 1 Oct 2026
Pay as a helper: From €2,096.50 gross/month across Austria
Chef de rang: Pay group 2 or 3, depending on responsibility
Languages: German and English; €40 allowance per required foreign language
Working hours: 40 hours a week, often evenings and weekends
Season: Winter November to April, summer May to October
Room and meals: Depends on the employer; see our guide “Seasonal work in Austria”

What does a waiter do?

You lay tables, polish glasses and cutlery and get the dining room ready. During service you welcome guests, explain food and drinks, take orders and serve.

At the end you take payment and cash up. In upscale restaurants you also work at the table, for example filleting fish or flambéing. For banquets and weddings you help with the planning.

What do I need?

The apprenticeship is called Restaurantfachfrau or Restaurantfachmann (restaurant specialist) and takes 3 years. Many seasonal businesses also take career changers as service helpers.

You need a good memory for orders, basic maths for payments, teamwork, and you should enjoy dealing with guests. You should be able to work evenings and weekends.

How much do waiters earn?

The collective agreement for hotels and restaurants groups you by qualification. The amounts apply from 1 October 2026 for 40 hours a week, gross, up to the 5th year of service.

Restaurant specialist with apprenticeship (pay group 3): €2,232.00 in Tyrol, Salzburg, Vorarlberg, Carinthia and Styria; €2,282.00 in Burgenland; €2,304.00 in Lower and Upper Austria; €2,330.00 in Vienna hotels
Service helper with less than 10 years in the industry (pay group 5): €2,096.50 everywhere
Chef de rang with more responsibility (pay group 2): for example €2,440.00 in Tyrol and Salzburg
Foreign language allowance: €40 per language under the pay table, if your employer requires it in service
Overtime: 50% supplement; plus pro rata holiday and Christmas pay

Where are seasonal jobs in service?

According to the AMS, many restaurant staff are not employed all year. Many jobs are fixed-term for the summer or winter season.

Typical employers, according to the AMS, are hotels, restaurants, cafés and bars. Catering companies and dining-car service on trains also employ waiting staff.

Which languages do I need?

Speaking well matters because you advise guests. The AMS lists English as important. If your German is still basic, ask about helper jobs; for advising guests at the table you need more.

Other languages are a plus because many guests come from abroad, most of them from Germany and the Netherlands. If your employer requires a foreign language, you get the allowance for it.

How do I apply as a waiter?

In your CV, say where you have served and in what kind of business: à la carte, banquets, breakfast or bar. Add how many tables you handled on your own and whether you have used a till.

List your languages with levels, for example German B1, English B2. A friendly photo helps because you work directly with guests.

What do I need to sort out before I start?

Address registration, health insurance registration, staff rooms, the regions with the most guests and unemployment benefit between seasons are explained in our guide “Seasonal work in Austria”.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does a waiter earn in Austria?

From 1 October 2026, at least €2,232.00 gross per month with an apprenticeship (in Tyrol, Salzburg and Vorarlberg), and at least €2,096.50 as a helper. Pro rata holiday and Christmas pay come on top.

Can I work in service without training?

Yes, as a service helper. You are then in pay group 5.

Do I earn more if I speak foreign languages?

Yes, if your employer requires the language. The collective agreement provides €40 per language.

When do employers look for waiting staff?

Mainly before the winter season (November to April) and before the summer season (May to October).

How many hours will I work?

Full time under the collective agreement is 40 hours over 5 days. Overtime is paid with a 50% supplement.

Sources

Information without guarantee, as of October 2026