Cafeteria worker vs room service server

The differences between cafeteria workers and room service servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a room service server has an average salary of $26,717, which is higher than the $24,465 average annual salary of a cafeteria worker.

The top three skills for a cafeteria worker include food handling, kitchen equipment and food preparation. The most important skills for a room service server are guest rooms, beverage orders, and in-room.

Cafeteria worker vs room service server overview

	Cafeteria Worker	Room Service Server
Yearly salary	$24,465	$26,717
Hourly rate	$11.76	$12.84
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	31,802	144,551
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 45%	High School Diploma, 34%
Average age	39	39
Years of experience	-	-

What does a cafeteria worker do?

A cafeteria worker is responsible for taking and processing customer orders, ensuring the correct foods are served, providing them the satisfaction of their dining experience. Cafeteria workers maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the facilities, manage the adequacy of inventory stock supplies, coordinate with suppliers for deliveries, process payments, and help out the customers with their inquiries and concerns. A cafeteria worker should also assist the management in developing marketing techniques to boost revenues and increase profitability.

What does a room service server do?

A room service server is an employee employed in a hotel or lodging to provide various services to the room occupants in the hotel. They often deliver ordered food, drinks, or movies to the occupants' rooms. Their duties and responsibilities include delivery of ordered foods or drinks, taking orders, collecting dirty dishes from rooms, and maintaining supplies and orders.

Cafeteria worker vs room service server salary

Cafeteria workers and room service servers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Cafeteria Worker	Room Service Server
Average salary	$24,465	$26,717
Salary range	Between $18,000 And $32,000	Between $18,000 And $39,000
Highest paying City	Yuba City, CA	Portland, ME
Highest paying state	Washington	Maine
Best paying company	Jefferson Elementary School District	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Best paying industry	Hospitality	Hospitality

Differences between cafeteria worker and room service server education

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

	Cafeteria Worker	Room Service Server
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 45%	High School Diploma, 34%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Cafeteria worker vs room service server demographics

Here are the differences between cafeteria workers' and room service servers' demographics:

	Cafeteria Worker	Room Service Server
Average age	39	39
Gender ratio	Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%	Male, 51.8% Female, 48.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 13.5% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%	Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 7.4% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between cafeteria worker and room service server duties and responsibilities

Cafeteria worker example responsibilities.

Prepare food, operate dishwasher, manage salad bar, and cash out students, teachers, and faculty.
Clean grills, ovens, and stoves.
Help prepare food, set-up salad bars.
Set up and break down fryers and slicers.
Sanitize and clean equipment according to HACCP standards.
Sell food to student and operating the POS system.

Room service server example responsibilities.

Clean and defrost mini bars regularly.
Train, maintain and enforce all Marriott service standards using use records, menus and appropriate reference materials.
Perform various financial activities such as cash and credit card processing, daily revenue reports, bank deposits, and payroll.
Assist in weekly payroll and scheduling responsibilities.
Establish a positive relationship with co-workers and managers through a solid work ethic, positive attitude, punctuality and dependability.
Build relationships with guests -help prepare for restaurant opening -Maintain restaurant at all times -Persuasive- positive use of upselling techniques

Cafeteria worker vs room service server skills

Common cafeteria worker skills

Food Handling, 22%
Kitchen Equipment, 20%
Food Preparation, 16%
Customer Service, 4%
Dishwashers, 4%
Nutritious Meals, 3%

Common room service server skills

Guest Rooms, 8%
Beverage Orders, 8%
In-Room, 6%
Cash Handling, 6%
Guest Service, 6%
Cleanliness, 6%

Cafeteria Worker vs. similar jobs

Cafeteria Worker related careers

Cafeteria Worker related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Food Preparation and Restaurant Industry
Cafeteria Worker
Cafeteria Worker vs Room Service Server

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse food preparation and restaurant jobs