Cafeteria server vs food server

The differences between cafeteria servers and food servers 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 $25,209 average annual salary of a food server.

The top three skills for a cafeteria server include clean kitchen, quality customer service and portion control. The most important skills for a food server are beverage orders, wine, and cleanliness.

Cafeteria server vs food server overview

	Cafeteria Server	Food Server
Yearly salary	$29,674	$25,209
Hourly rate	$14.27	$12.12
Growth rate	14%	9%
Number of jobs	74,546	125,455
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 41%	High School Diploma, 36%
Average age	23	42
Years of experience	-	-

Cafeteria server vs food server salary

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

	Cafeteria Server	Food Server
Average salary	$29,674	$25,209
Salary range	Between $23,000 And $37,000	Between $18,000 And $34,000
Highest paying City	-	Los Angeles, CA
Highest paying state	-	Vermont
Best paying company	-	Gettysburg College
Best paying industry	-	Retail

Differences between cafeteria server and food server education

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

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

Cafeteria server vs food server demographics

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

	Cafeteria Server	Food Server
Average age	23	42
Gender ratio	Male, 28.7% Female, 71.3%	Male, 36.0% Female, 64.0%
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, 4.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.4% Asian, 8.7% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	8%	7%

Differences between cafeteria server and food server 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 server example responsibilities.

Manage expediter window paying close attention to garnishes and presentation.
Provide outstanding customer service by communicating clearly and effectively while maintaining the cleanliness and organization of the restaurant.
Serve tables in a busy caf /bar environment.
Handle all transactions, both in person and by headset in drive-thru.
Work the Drive-Thru counter assisting numerous customers at a fast and friendly pace.
Prepare and serve delicious espresso, coffee drinks, and smoothies according to memorize recipes.

Cafeteria server vs food server 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 server skills

Beverage Orders, 10%
Wine, 9%
Cleanliness, 9%
Customer Service, 9%
Guest Service, 6%
Cash Handling, 5%

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Cafeteria Server
Cafeteria Server vs Food Server

Updated January 8, 2025

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