How much does a waiter earn in Spain and Europe?

Gastronomy is the sector most affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Along with the call back to normality, the number of job offers in this place has increased. How much does a waiter earn in Spain and how much abroad? Check the latest rates!

The pandemic period frustrated the plans of almost all employees and entrepreneurs. The closure of restaurants resulted in economic losses for one of the largest sectors of the economy: gastronomy . The aggrieved parties were on both sides: businessmen with high rents to pay for the rent of premises, for example, in the city center, and employees who are usually working on a fixed-term contract. And your earnings depend on tips .

However, the situation has improved over the last year. Most restaurants have survived the worst moments of the pandemic. It is also worth noting that, despite everything, the number of new restaurants is constantly growing. This, in turn, leads to an increase in the number of job offers in this sector, especially in the summer season.

What does a waiter do?

Let's start with what the Bartenders actually does. Regardless of the country of employment, the duties of a waiter will be similar:

• Customer service
• Cleaning of the facilities
• Serving food/drinks
• Attend to orders

At first glance, the job of the waiter does not seem too complicated. But when we talk about serving a few or a dozen guests, the matter is a little different. In addition, the waiter's job is based on direct contact with customers, which requires patience and understanding.

In short, a waiter is a person:

1. familiar with customer service rules
2. communicative and patient (customer is always right principle)
3. knowing several foreign languages ​​(an important skill when serving foreign tourists)
4. worker (morning/night shifts 10-12 hours)

Gains in gastronomy: what do they depend on?

First of all, earnings in gastronomy depend on the geographical situation . We are talking about the country, the city, or even the location of the premises itself (for example, the city center). There is no doubt that the salary of a waiter in Germany or the Netherlands will be higher than the salary in Spain.

It cannot be denied that in the rest of Europe we deal with more foreign tourists . The amount of tips received abroad will be incomparable, because customers reward waiters in Euro currency.

Tipping in gastronomy

Important! Tips depend, among others, on the type of restaurant (cafeteria, pub) and the customer . The price level in an entree restaurant determines the type of customer most likely to visit the premises. So, the more expensive the prices on the menu, the higher the chance that the waiter will get a bigger tip.

However, it is worth saying that this is not a rule. Much depends on communication with the client . The tip will be higher if the food is good and if the service is correct.

HOW MUCH DOES A TIP WAITER EARN?

Below you can see examples of tips in different European countries.

Country   Tips Examples

Germany around 4-5 EUR

France 15% is automatically added to the meal prices (approx. EUR 7.5 for a dinner for 2 people)

Holland there is no culture (custom) of leaving tips; most of the time it is rounded up to the total fee, i.e. approximately 2-3 EUR

Sweden we usually talk about a 10% tip

Britain no obligation to tip

Spain Spaniards do not tip, it is considered a kind of bribery. However, tourists are automatically charged a 10% tip

Italy everyone who has been to Italy at least once, met with coperto , that is, the amount charged in advance for the service (from 1 to 5 EUR)

Poland 5-10 PLN (1.04 – 2.08 EUR)

Curiously! In Belgium, as in France, the tip is included in the bill. The difference is that a French waiter will gladly accept an extra tip from a customer , while in Belgium this is considered tactless.

It is also worth remembering that tips are only given to the waiter serving the customer or are shared among all employees in the restaurant . The decision rests with the employer.

How much does a waiter earn in Spain and Europe – 2022 rates

As mentioned above, a large part of a waiter's earnings is tips. In addition, the gastronomic market in Spain still maintains the tendency to contract on the basis of a work and service contract. Because very often this type of work is popular with young people/students looking for temporary/seasonal work. Therefore, income in gastronomy both in Spain and abroad is considered one of the lowest.

It is estimated that a table waiter normally earns a gross monthly salary of between €831 and €1,305 when starting the job.

HOW MUCH DOES A WAITER EARN IN GERMANY?

In Germany, the waiter earns between 2,500 and 2,800 EUR gross.

However, when we talk about the salary of a cook , the situation looks a bit different in Spain. A chef here earns approximately €976 to €2,016 per month . For comparison, in the aforementioned Germany, a chef earns between 3,000 and 4,000 euros gross.

In the case of chefs, the amount of earnings depends on the qualifications required. If we are talking about a kitchen helper , the salary will be a little more modest, and the cook or chef can count on a similar salary (as indicated above).

 

Curiously! Working special events is usually more profitable. For example, a waiter at a wedding earns between €7.25 and €8.29 gross per hour . In this case, cooks or kitchen helpers can also count on higher earnings. Usually, the rates at parties are 1.5 – 2 times higher than at the restaurant.