BUS PERSON JOB DESCRIPTION

A Bus Person is the floor's first line of turnover. Without a reliable busser, table reset times slip, servers lose the rhythm of their sections, and guests wait longer than a well-run dining room allows. This role owns the physical upkeep of the dining floor, including clearing, resetting, and restocking, within environments that range from hotel resort restaurants to fine-dining community dining rooms. Standards here are real: grooming codes, sanitation compliance, and tray-carrying technique are evaluated and enforced shift to shift.

As the Bus Person, you maintain the dining floor's pace by clearing, resetting, and supplying tables so that servers can focus on guest interaction without interruption. You work across the front-of-house and dishwashing station, supporting a team that includes servers, bartenders, hosts, and kitchen staff throughout each meal period.

Career Impact: Starting as a Bus Person in a hotel, resort, or community dining setting gives you direct exposure to structured fine-dining service standards that are the baseline expectation for advancement to server or food runner roles.

Business Impact: Your speed and accuracy at table turnover directly affect how many covers the dining room completes per shift, and therefore the revenue a service period generates.

Growth Opportunity: Bussers who develop familiarity with full menu knowledge and front-of-house workflow are routinely promoted into server assistant and server roles, where tip income and scheduling priority increase substantially.

• Clear soiled dishes, glassware, and flatware from tables promptly after guests depart.
• Reset tables to service standard, including linens, place settings, and centerpieces, between covers.
• Stock and maintain bus stations with clean serviceware, napkins, and condiments throughout each shift.
• Carry loaded trays and transport soiled dishes to the dishwashing area safely and efficiently.
• Deliver bread, bottled water, and beverages to tables as directed by servers or supervisors.
• Alert servers immediately when tables require attention or when supplies run low on the floor.
• Set up and break down dining room configurations for scheduled meal periods and special events.
• Uphold food safety, sanitation, and health regulations in all table service and food-handling tasks.

• High school diploma or equivalent work experience.
• 6 or more months of experience in a food service or hospitality environment, with demonstrated teamwork.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds and remain on your feet for the duration of a full shift.
• Ability to navigate a busy, congested dining floor while carrying trays and serviceware without error.
• Ability to follow verbal directions promptly from servers, hosts, bartenders, and kitchen staff.
• Ability to communicate clearly in English, both to receive instructions and to interact courteously with guests.
• Availability to work varied shifts including weekends and holidays as scheduled.

• Previous experience in a hotel, resort, or fine-dining community dining environment.
• Familiarity with dining room setup and breakdown procedures for private events or banquet-style service.
• Demonstrated understanding of food health safety and sanitation principles in a regulated dining setting.
• Ability to read and explain menu items to assist guests when servers are unavailable.

• Table reset time per cover, reflecting how quickly the floor is returned to service-ready condition.
• Bus station restocking frequency, measuring whether serviceware shortages cause server delays during peak periods.
• Tray carry accuracy, tracking spill incidents or dropped serviceware per shift.
• Sanitation compliance rate, based on supervisor inspection of cleared tables and floor areas.
• Guest complaint rate attributable to table cleanliness or slow clearance, tracked per service period.
• Typical tools: Tray and tray stand systems; bus tubs and dish carts; standard flatware, glassware, and linen serviceware.

• Base Salary Range: $13 to $17 per hour, depending on location and venue type
• Bonus: Tips shared or tip-pooled arrangements common in many hospitality settings
• Equity: Not typically offered at this level
• Health Benefits: Varies by employer; part-time positions may offer limited coverage
• PTO: Accrued sick leave standard; vacation varies by employer policy
• Common Perks: Employee meal or dining discount during scheduled shifts

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Background check completion is required as a condition of employment in this role. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, and local law. Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities throughout the hiring process and employment. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

The Bus Person provides table service support in community dining rooms, clearing and resetting tables and running food trays to uphold fine dining standards for residents. Working alongside wait staff, managers, and supervisors, this role enables consistent, safe, and courteous meal service across breakfast, lunch, and dinner periods.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in clearing, cleaning, and resetting tables.
• Stock bus stations and keep all work areas free of crumbs and debris.
• Serve bread baskets, bottled water, and beverages where required.
• Assist in breakfast, lunch, or dinner food service where required.
• Carry and run food trays as needed.
• Assist with dishwashing and distribution of clean dishes as needed.
• Set up and break down tables and settings for various events.
• Assist managers and supervisors as directed in other duties assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Proven ability to multi-task efficiently in a busy environment.
• Can understand and follow instructions in English and communicate effectively.
• Ability to interpret and explain the menu, coordinate meal service, and respond to guest requests.
• Ability to work cooperatively with residents, guests, visitors, families, supervisors, and peers with courtesy and tact.
• Must work safely and comply with all department and community safety policies and procedures.

Embedded within the front-of-house service team, the Bus Person delivers table turnover support by memorizing the full menu, maintaining the bus station, and serving food and beverages across congested dining areas. Working closely with managers, hosts, servers, bartenders, and kitchen staff, this role enables smooth, efficient dining operations throughout each shift.

Core Functions

• Memorize the full menu to assist guests and support service staff.
• Bus, reset, and maintain the bus station in a clean, neat, and presentable condition.
• Break down the station at the end of the shift, including drying flatware.
• Follow directions from managers, hosts, servers, bartenders, and kitchen staff promptly.
• Assist co-workers and remain helpful, friendly, and courteous to guests at all times.
• Serve beverages and food quickly and efficiently while navigating congested areas with trays.
• Assist multiple tables simultaneously and work cooperatively with service, bar, and kitchen staff.

Qualifications & Experience

• Self-motivated with the ability to take initiative in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable interacting with co-workers and guests in a friendly and helpful manner.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Able to handle a stressful, noisy, and crowded work environment.
• Able to lift to 50 pounds and remain standing for an entire work shift.

Reporting to the department supervisor, the Bus Person collaborates with restaurant staff to deliver a positive dining experience by cleaning tables, ensuring serviceware availability, and upholding food safety and sanitation standards. Partnering with servers and hotel department teams, this role supports on-time food delivery and compliance with health, safety, and environmental commitments across hotel dining operations.

Primary Duties

• Collaborate with restaurant staff to create a positive dining experience for guests.
• Clean tables and remove soiled dishes promptly after guests depart.
• Ensure availability of clean dishes, flatware, glasses, napkins, and other dining materials.
• Deliver food orders to guests in a timely manner and alert servers when tables need attention.
• Uphold food health, safety, and sanitation principles and report hazards immediately to a supervisor.
• Attend all mandatory department and hotel meetings and complete required training on schedule.
• Support environmental commitments aligned with sustainable hospitality practices.

Skills & Qualifications

• Previous busser or runner experience in a similar setting.
• Previous hotel or resort experience preferred.
• Must meet grooming standards.
• Enthusiastic about customer service with high energy and strong attention to detail.
• Able to communicate effectively in English in both written and verbal forms.
• Able to work independently with little or no supervision and maintain focus during busy hours.
• Able to lift and carry up to 25 pounds and stand for extended periods.
• Willing to work varied shifts, including weekends and holidays.