Cafeteria server vs food counter worker

The differences between cafeteria servers and food counter workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a cafeteria server has an average salary of $29,674, which is higher than the $25,007 average annual salary of a food counter worker.

The top three skills for a cafeteria server include clean kitchen, quality customer service and portion control. The most important skills for a food counter worker are food handling, basic math, and safety standards.

Cafeteria server vs food counter worker overview

	Cafeteria Server	Food Counter Worker
Yearly salary	$29,674	$25,007
Hourly rate	$14.27	$12.02
Growth rate	14%	14%
Number of jobs	74,546	74,035
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 41%	High School Diploma, 36%
Average age	23	23
Years of experience	-	-

Cafeteria server vs food counter worker salary

Cafeteria servers and food counter workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Cafeteria Server	Food Counter Worker
Average salary	$29,674	$25,007
Salary range	Between $23,000 And $37,000	Between $18,000 And $33,000
Highest paying City	-	Andover, MA
Highest paying state	-	North Dakota
Best paying company	-	UC Merced
Best paying industry	-	Start-up

Differences between cafeteria server and food counter worker education

There are a few differences between a cafeteria server and a food counter worker in terms of educational background:

	Cafeteria Server	Food Counter Worker
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 41%	High School Diploma, 36%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Cafeteria server vs food counter worker demographics

Here are the differences between cafeteria servers' and food counter workers' demographics:

	Cafeteria Server	Food Counter Worker
Average age	23	23
Gender ratio	Male, 28.7% Female, 71.3%	Male, 41.2% Female, 58.8%
Race ratio	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%	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 cafeteria server and food counter worker duties and responsibilities

Cafeteria server example responsibilities.

Manage event reservations and party requests, inform customers about upcoming events and specials.
Establish a positive relationship with co-workers and managers through a solid work ethic, positive attitude, punctuality and dependability.
Develop credibility and confidence with VIP guests by maintaining confidentiality and complying with company standards.

Food counter worker example responsibilities.

Provide coffee and pastries for customers, make coffee and smoothies.
Assist with planning and directing food preparation and culinary activities along with safely handling and storing all products appropriately.
Sandwich making, cutting vegetables, cleaning fryers, washing dishes, cleaning of the dining area and cleaning the bathrooms.
Prepare personalized smoothies and meals for customers

Cafeteria server vs food counter worker skills

Common cafeteria server skills

Clean Kitchen, 37%
Quality Customer Service, 21%
Portion Control, 14%
Food Products, 8%
Service Line, 7%
Kitchen Equipment, 7%

Common food counter worker skills

Food Handling, 29%
Basic Math, 18%
Safety Standards, 16%
Cleanliness, 12%
Customer Complaints, 5%
Customer Service, 4%

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Cafeteria Server
Cafeteria Server vs Food Counter Worker

Updated January 8, 2025

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