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Banquet server vs bartender

The differences between banquet servers and bartenders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a banquet server has an average salary of $29,017, which is higher than the $26,362 average annual salary of a bartender.

The top three skills for a banquet server include wine, cleanliness and food service. The most important skills for a bartender are wine, bartending, and exceptional guest.

Banquet server vs bartender overview

Banquet ServerBartender
Yearly salary$29,017$26,362
Hourly rate$13.95$12.67
Growth rate10%18%
Number of jobs125,38157,518
Job satisfaction-4.67
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 41%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age2834
Years of experience-2

What does a banquet server do?

A banquet server is responsible for assisting guests in food catering events. Banquet servers' duties include arranging tables as the client desires, preparing the catering setup, refilling foods and beverages, managing guests' inquiries and possible complaints, keeping the food area clean, and maintaining the highest sanitation standards for the guests' best banquet experience. A banquet server should have excellent communication and time-management skills, especially on serving guests that would require utmost care and safe handling.

What does a bartender do?

A bartender is an expert in mixing and serving alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages, either directly to customers at the bar or through waitstaff who place drink orders for dine-in or room customers. Bartenders should have a wide range of knowledge of drink recipes and be able to assess customers' needs and preferences to make recommendations. They should mix drinks accurately, quickly, and without waste. They are also responsible for checking the customers' identification to ensure they are of legal drinking age and monitor the level of their intoxication.

Banquet server vs bartender salary

Banquet servers and bartenders have different pay scales, as shown below.

Banquet ServerBartender
Average salary$29,017$26,362
Salary rangeBetween $20,000 And $40,000Between $16,000 And $43,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCSeattle, WA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsHawaii
Best paying companyEndicott CollegeOTTO
Best paying industryProfessionalHospitality

Differences between banquet server and bartender education

There are a few differences between a banquet server and a bartender in terms of educational background:

Banquet ServerBartender
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 41%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Banquet server vs bartender demographics

Here are the differences between banquet servers' and bartenders' demographics:

Banquet ServerBartender
Average age2834
Gender ratioMale, 37.5% Female, 62.5%Male, 39.7% Female, 60.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 7.9% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 3.7% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage6%8%

Differences between banquet server and bartender duties and responsibilities

Banquet server example responsibilities.

  • Provide professional bartending and hospitality services to optimize customer service experiences for private, corporate, and public events.
  • Create PowerPoint food presentations for training purposes.
  • Gain skills in customer dining service, hospitality and compassion.
  • Analyze BEOs to ensure rooms are prepare each day for schedule events.
  • Organize and run every event book through cold calling or past guests.
  • Review BEOs in order to ensure proper room setup and A/V requests are meet.
  • Show more

Bartender example responsibilities.

  • Train and manage all new bartenders achieving significant results in their productivity and knowledge.
  • Manage bar and staff, tend bar, DJ and operate karaoke equipment.
  • Manage and promote company Facebook account.
  • Provide seamless beverage service, managing inventory and operating POS terminal.
  • Manage payroll and timekeeping including completion of proper paperwork for new hires and terminations.
  • Direct bartending operations, overseeing beverage service, scheduling, inventory management and customer service.
  • Show more

Banquet server vs bartender skills

Common banquet server skills
  • Wine, 12%
  • Cleanliness, 10%
  • Food Service, 9%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Professional Appearance, 5%
  • Beverage Service, 5%
Common bartender skills
  • Wine, 23%
  • Bartending, 10%
  • Exceptional Guest, 7%
  • Cleanliness, 6%
  • Non-Alcoholic Beverages, 5%
  • Cash Handling, 4%

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