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The differences between caterers and banquet servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a banquet server has an average salary of $29,017, which is higher than the $28,891 average annual salary of a caterer.
The top three skills for a caterer include food service, kitchen equipment and food delivery. The most important skills for a banquet server are wine, cleanliness, and food service.
| Caterer | Banquet Server | |
| Yearly salary | $28,891 | $29,017 |
| Hourly rate | $13.89 | $13.95 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 1,648 | 125,381 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Average age | 37 | 28 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A caterer is responsible for monitoring food preparation and presentation, ensuring the adequacy and accuracy of food stock based on the clients' specifications and guest count. Caterers often work with clients for special occasions and events, identify their needs, including the menu and nutritional requirements. They arrange food services from the dinnerware to choosing the appropriate staff to help with assisting the food preparation in the event's location. A caterer should maintain the highest sanitary standards at all times to guarantee the foods' safety, as well as showcase communication skills when responding to the clients' inquiries and concerns.
A banquet server is responsible for assisting guests in food catering events. Banquet servers' duties include arranging tables as the client desires, preparing the catering setup, refilling foods and beverages, managing guests' inquiries and possible complaints, keeping the food area clean, and maintaining the highest sanitation standards for the guests' best banquet experience. A banquet server should have excellent communication and time-management skills, especially on serving guests that would require utmost care and safe handling.
Caterers and banquet servers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Caterer | Banquet Server | |
| Average salary | $28,891 | $29,017 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $36,000 | Between $20,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Beverly, MA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New York | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | The College of St. Scholastica | Endicott College |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Professional |
There are a few differences between a caterer and a banquet server in terms of educational background:
| Caterer | Banquet Server | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between caterers' and banquet servers' demographics:
| Caterer | Banquet Server | |
| Average age | 37 | 28 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.0% Female, 57.0% | Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 6.1% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 7.9% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 6% |