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The differences between banquet servers and cocktail servers 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 $26,178 average annual salary of a cocktail server.
The top three skills for a banquet server include wine, cleanliness and food service. The most important skills for a cocktail server are wine, cash handling, and beverage orders.
| Banquet Server | Cocktail Server | |
| Yearly salary | $29,017 | $26,178 |
| Hourly rate | $13.95 | $12.59 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 125,381 | 74,674 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Average age | 28 | 28 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
A cocktail server's responsibilities revolve around taking orders and serving drinks in a restaurant or similar establishment, ensuring accuracy and customer satisfaction. Aside from this, a cocktail server may have to process payments, clean tables, and even offer suggestions when necessary. They also have to be alert for any signs of disruptive behavior from intoxicated to underage customers. Furthermore, it is essential to communicate and coordinate with the bartender and other kitchen staff to ensure that every patron gets their order, especially on days when there's a high customer presence.
Banquet servers and cocktail servers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Banquet Server | Cocktail Server | |
| Average salary | $29,017 | $26,178 |
| Salary range | Between $20,000 And $40,000 | Between $16,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Washington |
| Best paying company | Endicott College | Aspen Snowmass |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Media |
There are a few differences between a banquet server and a cocktail server in terms of educational background:
| Banquet Server | Cocktail Server | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between banquet servers' and cocktail servers' demographics:
| Banquet Server | Cocktail Server | |
| Average age | 28 | 28 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5% | Male, 13.0% Female, 87.0% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 10.7% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 22.8% Asian, 8.1% White, 51.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |