Bartender vs server

The differences between bartenders and servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a server has an average salary of $29,901, which is higher than the $26,362 average annual salary of a bartender.

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

Bartender vs server overview

	Bartender	Server
Yearly salary	$26,362	$29,901
Hourly rate	$12.67	$14.38
Growth rate	18%	10%
Number of jobs	57,518	162,734
Job satisfaction	4.67	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age	34	28
Years of experience	2	-

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.

What does a server do?

A server is a restaurant employee assigned to the main dining area of the restaurant to primarily attend to the customer's needs. Servers assist guests to their tables, wait for the guests to be ready with their orders, and take the guests' orders. They should be knowledgeable about the restaurant's offerings since they should be able to answer any questions asked by the guests regarding the menu. They communicate the guests' orders to the kitchen crew and serve the orders once they are ready. Once the guests are finished eating, servers provide their bills upon their request and clean up the table when they leave. Servers should have excellent customer service skills and hospitality management skills.

Bartender vs server salary

Bartenders and servers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Bartender	Server
Average salary	$26,362	$29,901
Salary range	Between $16,000 And $43,000	Between $21,000 And $42,000
Highest paying City	Seattle, WA	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	Hawaii	New York
Best paying company	OTTO	Dell
Best paying industry	Hospitality	Hospitality

Differences between bartender and server education

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

	Bartender	Server
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Bartender vs server demographics

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

	Bartender	Server
Average age	34	28
Gender ratio	Male, 39.7% Female, 60.3%	Male, 32.0% Female, 68.0%
Race ratio	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%	Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 8.2% White, 54.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	8%	6%

Differences between bartender and server duties and responsibilities

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.

Server example responsibilities.

Manage expediter window paying close attention to garnishes and presentation.
Provide exceptional customer service, while frequently checking for food allergies, by utilizing excellent communication and multitasking skills.
Maximize profits by upselling food and alcoholic beverages and utilizing excellent customer service skills to ensure guests repeat business.
Clean bars, work areas, and tables.
Provide exceptional service to guests with charm, professionalism, respect, and bright personality.
Embrace serving on a more personal level due the quaint, small-town charm of the location.

Bartender vs server skills

Common bartender skills

Wine, 23%
Bartending, 10%
Exceptional Guest, 7%
Cleanliness, 6%
Non-Alcoholic Beverages, 5%
Cash Handling, 4%

Common server skills

Wine, 15%
Customer Service, 10%
Guest Satisfaction, 8%
Cleanliness, 7%
Cash Handling, 7%
POS, 6%

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Food Preparation and Restaurant Industry
Bartender
Bartender vs Server

Updated January 8, 2025

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