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The differences between bar backs and cafeteria workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a bar back has an average salary of $25,316, which is higher than the $24,465 average annual salary of a cafeteria worker.
The top three skills for a bar back include BARS, wine and cleanliness. The most important skills for a cafeteria worker are food handling, kitchen equipment, and food preparation.
| Bar Back | Cafeteria Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $25,316 | $24,465 |
| Hourly rate | $12.17 | $11.76 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 56,369 | 31,802 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | High School Diploma, 45% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A bar back performs various support tasks in restaurants and other dining establishments. They may assist bartenders and other staff by taking orders, serving drinks, monitoring inventories, re-stocking supplies, discarding the trash, and maintaining the cleanliness of different areas. They may also participate in opening and closing the establishment, replenishing items such as napkins and garnishes, conducting regular maintenance checks, and performing basic maintenance repairs as necessary. Moreover, as a bar back, it is essential to maintain an open communication line with co-workers, coordinating to maintain an efficient workflow.
A cafeteria worker is responsible for taking and processing customer orders, ensuring the correct foods are served, providing them the satisfaction of their dining experience. Cafeteria workers maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the facilities, manage the adequacy of inventory stock supplies, coordinate with suppliers for deliveries, process payments, and help out the customers with their inquiries and concerns. A cafeteria worker should also assist the management in developing marketing techniques to boost revenues and increase profitability.
Bar backs and cafeteria workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Bar Back | Cafeteria Worker | |
| Average salary | $25,316 | $24,465 |
| Salary range | Between $19,000 And $33,000 | Between $18,000 And $32,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Yuba City, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Washington |
| Best paying company | El Camino High School | Jefferson Elementary School District |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a bar back and a cafeteria worker in terms of educational background:
| Bar Back | Cafeteria Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | High School Diploma, 45% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between bar backs' and cafeteria workers' demographics:
| Bar Back | Cafeteria Worker | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.0% Female, 11.0% | Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 6.4% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 13.5% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |