Bartender server vs cook/server

The differences between bartender servers and cook/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 $29,716 average annual salary of a cook/server.

The top three skills for a bartender server include bartending, POS and non-alcoholic beverages. The most important skills for a cook/server are customer service, customer orders, and safety standards.

Bartender server vs cook/server overview

	Bartender Server	Cook/Server
Yearly salary	$32,591	$29,716
Hourly rate	$15.67	$14.29
Growth rate	18%	14%
Number of jobs	106,784	257,582
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 44%	High School Diploma, 52%
Average age	34	23
Years of experience	2	-

What does a bartender server do?

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.

What does a cook/server do?

Cooks/servers are employees who take on the dual role of being a cook and a server in the restaurant. They are usually trained cooks who are in charge of preparing meals for the guests. They prepare ingredients, cook them according to the recipe, and serve them to guests. They are responsible for ensuring that the food is prepared and served to guests within the promised time. They are in charge of managing the pantry, ensuring that the stock is fresh, and checking whether the stock is low. They are expected to have culinary skills, precision, and time management skills.

Bartender server vs cook/server salary

Bartender servers and cook/servers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Bartender Server	Cook/Server
Average salary	$32,591	$29,716
Salary range	Between $23,000 And $46,000	Between $23,000 And $37,000
Highest paying City	Edmonds, WA	Bellingham, WA
Highest paying state	Hawaii	Alaska
Best paying company	Earth Fare	The Harley School
Best paying industry	Hospitality	Retail

Differences between bartender server and cook/server education

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

	Bartender Server	Cook/Server
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 44%	High School Diploma, 52%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Bartender server vs cook/server demographics

Here are the differences between bartender servers' and cook/servers' demographics:

	Bartender Server	Cook/Server
Average age	34	23
Gender ratio	Male, 33.8% Female, 66.2%	Male, 45.9% Female, 54.1%
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, 9.6% Unknown, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.5% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between bartender server and cook/server duties and responsibilities

Bartender server example responsibilities.

Use micros, handle money, give change, manage bar cost, keep good customer relations to gain repeat business.
Direct bartending operations, seamless beverage services, inventory management and customer service.
Provide efficient hands-on food and beverage delivery while successfully upselling food and beverage orders.
Optimize bar revenue by upselling drinks and facilitating repeat business by cultivating relationships to encourage repeat patronage.
Fast pace serving customers, bartender on occasion, put orders in micros and get people their checks in a timely matter
Experience utilizing POS system quickly and accurately.

Cook/server example responsibilities.

Develop ability to manage multiple stations simultaneously while maintaining high levels of culinary excellence.
Assist customers, bag groceries, replenish carts, and clean store.
Pay close attention to detail while multitasking between communicating over the intercom, utilizing the POS, and order placing.
Make smoothies, coffee, customer service, cashier, fill bakery cooler, inventory, stock, and clean!
Operate the filtration system used for the fryers to keep all sanitation guidelines up to standards as per the health department.
Operate, and maintain clean and safe cooking equipment like pressure cooker deep fryers, plate grills, and deep fryers.

Bartender server vs cook/server skills

Common bartender server skills

Bartending, 15%
POS, 10%
Non-Alcoholic Beverages, 9%
Fine Dining, 7%
Drink Orders, 5%
Customer Service, 5%

Common cook/server skills

Customer Service, 41%
Customer Orders, 8%
Safety Standards, 6%
Food Preparation, 5%
Kitchen Equipment, 4%
POS, 4%

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Food Preparation and Restaurant Industry
Bartender Server
Bartender Server vs Cook/Server

Updated January 8, 2025

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