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Things that raise your income

• Move to a higher check average

  You earn a percentage. The same effort on a $200 table pays four times what it does on a $50 table.

• Wine and cocktail knowledge

  Wine certifications are cheap at the first level and change which restaurants will hire you.

• Bartending

  The usual step up from serving: higher tips, later hours and more skill involved.

• Banquets and private events

  Weddings and corporate events pay a service charge, which is steadier than tips.

• A second language

  Spanish with the kitchen, or any language your city's visitors speak, at hotels and tourist restaurants.