Server Jobs in Arlington, TX
Arlington servers work two kinds of floors: Entertainment District hotel restaurants that fill around Cowboys and Rangers home dates, and busy chain dining rooms on Cooper Street, Bowen Road and at Lincoln Square that run a steady week. Tips decide most of the paycheck. Here are the current server openings.
Current server Openings in Arlington, TX
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Server Work in Arlington
The Entertainment District sets the pace for Arlington serving work. The Loews Arlington Hotel sits beside AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field on Nolan Ryan Expressway and hires restaurant, lobby and pool servers for outlets such as Farena, Tomar El Sol and THE | BAR, while Live! by Loews runs Cut & Bourbon across the street. Game days and convention weeks pack those rooms, and a slow weeknight can be quiet.
Outside the district, full-service chains carry steadier covers. Olive Garden at Lincoln Square, at I-30 and Collins Street in North Arlington, and Cracker Barrel's stores on South Bowen Road near I-20 and North Watson Road hire servers year round, and The Cheesecake Factory also hires servers in Arlington. Arlington has no fixed-route bus, so most servers drive, and picking a restaurant close to home matters for late closes.
Top Arlington Employers Hiring Servers
These employers list Arlington server openings on their own careers sites:
- Loews Arlington Hotel - the Entertainment District hotel posts full-time restaurant, lobby and pool server roles and asks for upscale or high-volume experience.
- Olive Garden - the North Arlington restaurant at 210 Lincoln Square hires servers paid an hourly rate plus tips.
- Cracker Barrel - the South Bowen Road store hires servers with weekly pay, and the chain also staffs a store on North Watson Road.
- The Cheesecake Factory - the restaurant chain lists an Arlington server opening on its own careers site.
Server Salaries in Arlington
- Entry level: about $10 to $15 per hour with tips on slower shifts and in casual dining.
- Experienced: roughly $15 to $25 per hour with tips at busy full-service restaurants.
- Senior: $25 to $35 or more per hour with tips for hotel fine dining, banquet and strong event nights.
These are estimates. The BLS put the national median for waiters and waitresses at $16.94 an hour including tips in May 2025, with the top 10 percent above $31. Texas allows a $2.13 cash wage as long as tips bring pay to at least $7.25 an hour, so the venue, the shift and the event calendar move pay more than anything else.
How to Become a Server in Arlington
There is no state license for servers in Texas. The Texas Department of State Health Services requires an accredited food handler course within 30 days of employment, and the card is valid for two years. If you will serve alcohol, expect employers to ask for TABC seller-server certification; state law does not require it, but it gives the employer safe harbor protection, and Loews asks bartenders for a TIPS or state-approved certificate. Most new servers start as a host or busser. For banquet or event work, Tarrant County College offers an Event Management program, and its only Arlington campus is TCC Southeast on Southeast Parkway.
What the Job Involves
Servers greet tables, explain the menu, take and enter orders, time courses with the kitchen, refill drinks, run food and close checks accurately. The job means hours on your feet, carrying trays of up to 35 pounds, checking IDs on alcohol orders and keeping several tables moving at once. Shifts skew toward evenings, weekends and holidays.
Skills Employers Look For
- A Texas food handler card and TABC seller-server certification
- Managing a full section without losing track of tables
- Menu knowledge, including allergens
- Friendly, confident guest service
- POS speed and accurate check handling
- Availability on weekends, holidays and event days
Career Path and Advancement
Most Arlington servers start as a host or busser, take a small weekday section, and earn the weekend and event shifts. From there the paths split: bartender, banquet captain at the Loews properties, or shift lead and floor manager at a chain restaurant. A Certified Food Manager credential helps anyone moving into management.
Related Careers in Arlington
Servers in Arlington often cross-train into these roles:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a server in Arlington, TX?
No state license exists for servers. You need an accredited food handler card within 30 days of employment. TABC seller-server certification is not legally required, but most Arlington employers that serve alcohol ask for it.
How much do servers make in Arlington?
Most Arlington servers earn about $10 to $25 an hour once tips are counted, depending on the restaurant and the shift. Hotel fine dining, banquets and busy event nights can push earnings to $25 to $35 an hour or more. These are estimates, not posted rates.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Texas?
Texas employers can pay tipped staff a cash wage of $2.13 an hour as long as tips bring total pay to at least $7.25 an hour. If tips fall short, the employer has to make up the difference.
Is serving in Arlington seasonal work?
It depends on the room. Entertainment District hotels follow the Rangers, Cowboys and convention calendars, so some weeks are much busier than others. Chain restaurants on Cooper Street, Bowen Road and at Lincoln Square run a steadier schedule year round.
How long does it take to become a server in Arlington?
If you have restaurant experience, you can often start within days, since the food handler card and TABC course are short online classes. With no experience, expect to start as a host or busser for a few months before taking a section.
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