UK AI Job-Risk Index · SOC 2010 9273
Ranks #210 of 293 for AI exposure (1 = most exposed)
How exposed to AI are waiters and waitresses?
32/100
AI exposure score (percentile across all 365 occupations DfE scored)
Low#210
of 293 UK occupations (1 = most exposed)
£17,425
median full-time pay (ONS ASHE 2020) · 155,000 employee jobs
Waiters and waitresses sits in the low exposure band: its abilities overlap with current AI applications more than about 32% of the 365 UK occupations the Department for Education scored. Lower exposure usually means more of the work depends on physical, practical or in-person abilities that current AI applications do not cover well. It does not mean the job will be untouched by technology.
Underlying scores: AIOE (all AI) -0.65, LLM exposure -0.26 (standardised; 0 is the average occupation). Skill level: Level 1. Pay and job counts are 2020 figures, so use them to compare occupations rather than as current salaries.
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Job titles in this occupation
Titles the ONS SOC 2010 coding index places in unit group 9273. If your job title is here, this page uses the right figures for you.
busser · waiter · tea maid · waitress · sommelier · saloon boy · head waiter · ward waiter · wine butler · wine waiter · chef de rang · mess steward · wine steward · chief steward · head waitress · ward waitress · maitre d'hotel · canteen steward · catering steward · messroom steward · restaurant waiter · conference and banqueting assistant
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Lower-risk related jobs
Occupations in the same SOC 2010 sub-major group with a lower AI exposure score, highest-paid first. Pay difference is against £17,425 (ONS ASHE 2020 median, full-time). Switching usually needs retraining; this is a starting point, not advice.
| Occupation | Exposure | Median pay | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postal workers, mail sorters, messengers and couriers | 18/100 | £24,019 | +£6,594 |
| Elementary storage occupations | 32/100 | £22,236 | +£4,811 |
| Parking and civil enforcement occupations | 30/100 | £21,821 | +£4,396 |
| Refuse and salvage occupations | 16/100 | £20,628 | +£3,203 |
| Street cleaners | 6/100 | £20,244 | +£2,819 |
Occupations with similar exposure
- Elementary storage occupations (32/100)
- Cleaning and housekeeping managers and supervisors (32/100)
- Electricians and electrical fitters (33/100)
- Hairdressers and barbers (33/100)
← #209 Electricians and electrical fitters · #211 Elementary storage occupations →
FAQ: Waiters and waitresses and AI
Will AI replace waiters and waitresses?
The index does not predict job losses. Waiters and waitresses has an AI exposure score of 32/100 (low band), ranking #210 of 293 UK occupations, where 1 is the most exposed. Lower exposure means more of the work relies on abilities current AI applications cover less well.
How does this compare with similar jobs?
Waiters and waitresses is one of 16 occupations in its SOC 2010 sub-major group in the index; 3 of the others are more exposed to AI.
How much do waiters and waitresses earn?
Median gross annual pay for full-time employees was £17,425 in ONS ASHE 2020 (Table 14), across about 155,000 employee jobs. These are 2020 figures, so use them to compare jobs rather than as current salaries.
Which related jobs are less exposed to AI?
In the same sub-major group, lower-exposure occupations include Postal workers, mail sorters, messengers and couriers (18/100, £24,019), Elementary storage occupations (32/100, £22,236), Parking and civil enforcement occupations (30/100, £21,821).
Where does this data come from?
AI exposure uses Department for Education (2023) AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) scores; pay and job counts come from ONS ASHE 2020. Job titles come from the ONS SOC 2010 coding index.
Source: Department for Education (2023), The impact of AI on UK jobs and training (AIOE scores); ONS ASHE 2020 Table 14; job titles from the ONS SOC 2010 coding index (v7). Exposure is not a prediction of job loss. Methodology · Embed this data
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