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The differences between bar backs and dining room servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a dining room server has an average salary of $29,540, which is higher than the $25,316 average annual salary of a bar back.
The top three skills for a bar back include BARS, wine and cleanliness. The most important skills for a dining room server are fine dining, food service, and cleanliness.
| Bar Back | Dining Room Server | |
| Yearly salary | $25,316 | $29,540 |
| Hourly rate | $12.17 | $14.20 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 56,369 | 99,079 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 42% |
| 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 dining room server performs various tasks to give patrons a positive dining experience. Their job usually entails greeting customers and presenting the menu, taking their orders, answering inquiries, recommending products and other services, serving drinks and food, and handling concerns professionally and courteously. They are also responsible for coordinating with cashiers and kitchen staff, cleaning and preparing tables for new customers, and assisting staff as needed. In some establishments, a dining room server may also participate in preparing drinks or ingredients, monitoring supply inventories, and collecting payments.
Bar backs and dining room servers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Bar Back | Dining Room Server | |
| Average salary | $25,316 | $29,540 |
| Salary range | Between $19,000 And $33,000 | Between $23,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Marysville, WA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Washington |
| Best paying company | El Camino High School | Eastmont School District |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a bar back and a dining room server in terms of educational background:
| Bar Back | Dining Room Server | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between bar backs' and dining room servers' demographics:
| Bar Back | Dining Room Server | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.0% Female, 11.0% | Male, 35.1% Female, 64.9% |
| 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, 10.0% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 13.5% Asian, 7.5% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |