Bartender server vs restaurant server

The differences between bartender servers and restaurant 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 $24,558 average annual salary of a restaurant server.

The top three skills for a bartender server include bartending, POS and non-alcoholic beverages. The most important skills for a restaurant server are wine, exceptional dining, and guest satisfaction.

Bartender server vs restaurant server overview

	Bartender Server	Restaurant Server
Yearly salary	$32,591	$24,558
Hourly rate	$15.67	$11.81
Growth rate	18%	10%
Number of jobs	106,784	141,250
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 44%	Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Average age	34	28
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 restaurant server do?

Also called food servers, restaurant servers perform food preparation, cleaning duties, and customer service in casual dining eateries and restaurants. The food servers stock supplies, handle credit cards and the cash register, and clean restaurant counters and tables. They provide assistance to restaurant patrons to take orders, deliver food, and answer customer questions. The skills they need include trustworthiness, organization, customer relations, and communication skills.

Bartender server vs restaurant server salary

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

	Bartender Server	Restaurant Server
Average salary	$32,591	$24,558
Salary range	Between $23,000 And $46,000	Between $15,000 And $37,000
Highest paying City	Edmonds, WA	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	Hawaii	California
Best paying company	Earth Fare	University of California, Berkeley
Best paying industry	Hospitality	Agriculture

Differences between bartender server and restaurant server education

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

	Bartender Server	Restaurant Server
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 44%	Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Bartender server vs restaurant server demographics

Here are the differences between bartender servers' and restaurant servers' demographics:

	Bartender Server	Restaurant Server
Average age	34	28
Gender ratio	Male, 33.8% Female, 66.2%	Male, 40.8% Female, 59.2%
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, 10.9% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 9.4% White, 52.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	8%	6%

Differences between bartender server and restaurant 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.

Restaurant server example responsibilities.

Demonstrate adequate culinary and Italian wine knowledge through suggestive selling.
Input orders in micros and issue guest check for each order.
Prepare the groceries for the customer in their request baggage handing.3.
Maintain clean, sanitize FOH area and ensure health & safety and hygiene procedures and standards are meet.
Work with operations manager in ordering and setting up all FOH systems need in opening a new restaurant.
Provide thorough knowledge of the restaurant's menu to make recommendations or answer questions, and enter POS charges.

Bartender server vs restaurant server skills

Common bartender server skills

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

Common restaurant server skills

Wine, 28%
Exceptional Dining, 6%
Guest Satisfaction, 5%
Cleanliness, 5%
POS, 5%
Food Service, 5%

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

Updated January 8, 2025

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