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The differences between bartender servers and cocktail servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a bartender server has an average salary of $32,591, which is higher than the $26,178 average annual salary of a cocktail server.
The top three skills for a bartender server include bartending, POS and non-alcoholic beverages. The most important skills for a cocktail server are wine, cash handling, and beverage orders.
| Bartender Server | Cocktail Server | |
| Yearly salary | $32,591 | $26,178 |
| Hourly rate | $15.67 | $12.59 |
| Growth rate | 18% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 106,784 | 74,674 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Average age | 34 | 28 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
Bartender servers are employees who work in the restaurant's bar area. They are responsible for assembling customers' drink orders and serving these to customers. They should be sound drink mixers and must be familiar with cocktail combinations and other mixes. They should also know the ingredients of the restaurant's drinks and should be able to use alternatives should specific components be unavailable. Some bartender servers engage in flairtending, a way of mixing drinks that entertains the guests waiting for their drinks.
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.
Bartender servers and cocktail servers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Bartender Server | Cocktail Server | |
| Average salary | $32,591 | $26,178 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $46,000 | Between $16,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | Edmonds, WA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Washington |
| Best paying company | Earth Fare | Aspen Snowmass |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Media |
There are a few differences between a bartender server and a cocktail server in terms of educational background:
| Bartender Server | Cocktail Server | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between bartender servers' and cocktail servers' demographics:
| Bartender Server | Cocktail Server | |
| Average age | 34 | 28 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.8% Female, 66.2% | Male, 13.0% Female, 87.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 3.8% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | 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 | 8% | 6% |