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Restaurant Jobs in Waterloo, IA (NOW HIRING)

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Restaurant information

See Waterloo, IA salary details

$24.2K

$59.3K

$188.8K

How much do restaurant jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for restaurant in Waterloo, IA is $59,296.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $39,400.00 and $63,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Restaurant vs Waiter?

AspectRestaurantWaiter
RoleEstablishments providing food and beverage services, managing overall operationsFrontline staff serving food and drinks to customers
CredentialsMay require food safety certifications, management trainingTypically no formal certification required, on-the-job training common
Work EnvironmentKitchen, dining area, management officesDining area, customer service setting
Industry UsageBusiness entity encompassing all staff and operationsSpecific job role within a restaurant

In summary, a restaurant is the entire establishment offering food services, while a waiter is a staff member responsible for serving customers within that restaurant. Understanding this distinction helps clarify job roles and career paths in the food service industry.

How to get a restaurant job?

Some restaurants want culinary school education for people who work in the kitchen, but most offer entry-level positions such as a dishwasher, table cleaner, or food prep worker. You can use these entry-level positions to gain experience and eventually transition to another position. Some restaurants provide on-the-job training for kitchen or waiting jobs. Another option is to gain experience in a casual restaurant before applying to work in a fine-dining restaurant. To become a bartender you can either apply to become a support bar back and learn on the job, or pursue classes offered by local schools. Restaurant managers either have extensive job experience or have completed a degree program.

What are some common challenges faced by restaurant employees during busy service hours, and how can they be managed?

During peak service hours, restaurant employees often face challenges such as high customer volume, time pressure, and coordinating with kitchen and front-of-house staff. Effective communication, strong teamwork, and maintaining a calm, organized approach are key to managing these challenges. Many restaurants provide training on multitasking and stress management to help staff deliver excellent service even when the pace is fast. Learning to anticipate customer needs and staying adaptable can also make busy shifts more manageable and rewarding.

What is a restaurant?

Restaurant jobs refer to various positions within a dining establishment, including roles such as servers, cooks, dishwashers, hosts, and managers. Each role plays a vital part in delivering a positive dining experience by preparing food, serving guests, managing operations, and maintaining cleanliness. Working in a restaurant can be fast-paced and requires strong communication, teamwork, and customer service skills. These jobs offer opportunities for advancement and can be a starting point for a career in the hospitality industry.

What are different jobs at a restaurant?

Jobs at a restaurant include positions such as server, cook, chef, host or hostess, bartender, dishwasher, and manager. These roles require various skills, from customer service to food preparation and management, often involving shifts during evenings and weekends.
More about Restaurant jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Restaurant jobs in Waterloo, IA?

The most popular types of Restaurant jobs in Waterloo, IA are:

What job categories do people searching Restaurant jobs in Waterloo, IA look for?

The top searched job categories for Restaurant jobs in Waterloo, IA are:

What cities near Waterloo, IA are hiring for Restaurant jobs?

Cities near Waterloo, IA with the most Restaurant job openings:

Restaurant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Restaurant job openings in Waterloo, IA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 63% Full Time, and 37% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $59,296 per year, or $28.5 per hour.

Associate Restaurant Manager

Perkins Restaurant and Bakery

Waterloo, IA • On-site

$55K - $65K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Life, PTO

Re-posted 15 days ago

Perkins Restaurant & Bakery rating

4.9

Company rating: 4.9 out of 10

Based on 135 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

78th of 88 rated restaurants

Job description

Benefits:
  • Life/disability Insurance
  • Bonus based on performance
  • Dental insurance
  • Health insurance
  • Paid time off

CyHawk Hospitality, Inc., franchisee for Perkins Restaurant is now hiring a front-of-the-house Associate Restaurant Manager for our location in Waterloo Weekends are required with a 50-hour typical workweek. Salary range is $55,000 - $65,000, depending on experience, plus bonus. Benefits include 2 weeks of vacation, health, dental, life/disability insurance, and more. Plus, we're closed on Christmas day.
CyHawk Hospitality is a growing family-owned company that opened our first Perkins in 2007 and now owns 21 restaurants.
SUMMARY OF POSITION
Assists the General Manager in restaurant operations and in achieving planned sales and profit levels for the restaurant through the implementation, management, and enforcement of company policies, procedures, programs, and performance standards. Provide direction for restaurant staff to ensure maximum guest satisfaction, ensuring execution of all employee duties to guarantee maximum guest satisfaction and a quality work environment.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
  • Reports: Directly to General Manager
  • Internal: Extensive contacts with all levels of store personnel as well as all home office departments.
  • External: Extensive contacts include guests, distributors, repair technicians, salespersons, and community organizations and schools

LEADERSHIP ABILITIES
  • Demonstrates principles actions, uses sound judgment and follow through on commitments.
  • Anticipates problems and issues and makes timely and sound decisions.
  • Demonstrates a passion and working knowledge of food, liquor, beer and wine.
  • Leads by example and maintains a guest first focus.
  • Sets and shares goals with team, monitors and tracks progress of goals.
  • Directly and honestly addresses issues and resolves conflicts and seeks opportunities for improvement.
  • Clarifies roles, responsibilities, priorities and expectations.

POSITION ACTIVITIES AND TASKS
  • Assists the General Manager in planning and analyzing administration and operations manpower.
  • Ensures that all menu items are prepared, portioned, and presented properly in a clean safe, and sanitary manner, according to all established procedures, performance standards, and local health department regulations.
  • Required, under certain circumstances, to perform/assist all functions for all positions in the restaurant.
  • Ensures the unit's compliance to productivity and service standards with a sufficient number of well-trained and productive employees.
  • Ensures proper management of the facility and equipment through preventive
  • Maintenance, energy conservation, repairs, security measures, and adherence to safety and sanitation requirements.
  • Ensures that inventory levels for both food and non-food items are properly maintained in accordance with company guidelines through correct ordering procedures and efficient usage and yield application.
  • Conducts employment activities to include staffing (hire/term responsibilities), training, and conducting performance reviews with all dining room personnel, as well as recommending salary increases and issuing employee work histories.
  • Ensures accurate financial data to include: payroll, cash and receipts, productivity, food costs, and operating expenses. Responsible for all communications with regard to system breakdowns and deficiencies.
  • Attends unit management meetings, makes presentations as requested. Responsible for meeting established objectives during periods of his/her or Key Hourly's supervision.

Disclaimer
This position description in not intended, and should not be construed to be, an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts or working conditions associated with job. It is intended, however, to be an accurate reflection of those principle job elements essential for making decisions related to job performance, employee development and compensation. As such, the incumbent may perform other duties and responsibilities as required.
Compensation: $55,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year
Founded in 1958, Perkins® operates 290 restaurants in 32 states and two Canadian provinces. The Perkins system includes 85 company-owned and operated restaurants and 205 franchised units. With its diverse, moderately priced menu featuring breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bakery offerings, and its attractive and recently remodeled restaurants designed to facilitate efficiency and guest satisfaction, Perkins Restaurant & Bakery is a dining favorite with a solid and respected reputation in the marketplace.
The longevity and success of Perkins Restaurant & Bakery is largely attributed to the concept's ability to adapt to shifts in consumer dining trends and evolving taste preferences while delivering that homestyle goodness that guests crave. At Perkins, we're always updating our menu with fresh, flavorful and innovative items that take their place right alongside Perkins' iconic guest favorites, some of which have been on our menu for more than 30 years. We also take great pride in differentiating ourselves with the service and experience we provide. This has and continues to be a hallmark of our brand.
BE A PART OF OUR SUCCESS
Perkins has experienced years of success through ensuring 100% guest satisfaction on every visit. If you want to work and grow with a company who has a proven track record of success, has an unmatched commitment to their employees and employees the best in the industry, you are in the right place!
This franchise is independently owned and operated by a franchisee. Your application will go directly to the franchisee, and all hiring decisions will be made by the management of this franchisee. All inquiries about employment at this franchisee should be made directly to the franchise location, and not to Perkins Corporate.

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