Bar attendant vs food server

The differences between bar attendants and food servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a food server has an average salary of $25,209, which is higher than the $24,295 average annual salary of a bar attendant.

The top three skills for a bar attendant include cleanliness, front desk and quality standards. The most important skills for a food server are beverage orders, wine, and cleanliness.

Bar attendant vs food server overview

	Bar Attendant	Food Server
Yearly salary	$24,295	$25,209
Hourly rate	$11.68	$12.12
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	101,930	125,455
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 37%	High School Diploma, 36%
Average age	39	42
Years of experience	-	-

Bar attendant vs food server salary

Bar attendants and food servers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Bar Attendant	Food Server
Average salary	$24,295	$25,209
Salary range	Between $18,000 And $31,000	Between $18,000 And $34,000
Highest paying City	Urban Honolulu, HI	Los Angeles, CA
Highest paying state	Maine	Vermont
Best paying company	HEI Hotels & Resorts	Gettysburg College
Best paying industry	Retail	Retail

Differences between bar attendant and food server education

There are a few differences between a bar attendant and a food server in terms of educational background:

	Bar Attendant	Food Server
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 37%	High School Diploma, 36%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Bar attendant vs food server demographics

Here are the differences between bar attendants' and food servers' demographics:

	Bar Attendant	Food Server
Average age	39	42
Gender ratio	Male, 35.2% Female, 64.8%	Male, 36.0% Female, 64.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 7.5% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%	Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.4% Asian, 8.7% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	6%	7%

Differences between bar attendant and food server duties and responsibilities

Bar attendant example responsibilities.

Maintain cleanliness and organization of designate work areas.
Maintain cleanliness, sanitation and organize assigned work areas.
Keep records on individual pet, including daily observations and information activities perform, meals sever, and medication administer.
Set up the VIP area.
Check IDs.Security.Make judgment calls.handle bar responsibilities.greet guest in a professional respectable manner.handle and count money.

Food server example responsibilities.

Manage expediter window paying close attention to garnishes and presentation.
Provide outstanding customer service by communicating clearly and effectively while maintaining the cleanliness and organization of the restaurant.
Serve tables in a busy caf /bar environment.
Handle all transactions, both in person and by headset in drive-thru.
Work the Drive-Thru counter assisting numerous customers at a fast and friendly pace.
Prepare and serve delicious espresso, coffee drinks, and smoothies according to memorize recipes.

Bar attendant vs food server skills

Common bar attendant skills

Cleanliness, 25%
Front Desk, 16%
Quality Standards, 14%
Guest Satisfaction, 12%
Clean Tables, 6%
Cash Handling, 4%

Common food server skills

Beverage Orders, 10%
Wine, 9%
Cleanliness, 9%
Customer Service, 9%
Guest Service, 6%
Cash Handling, 5%

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Food Preparation and Restaurant Industry
Bar Attendant
Bar Attendant vs Food Server

Updated January 8, 2025

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