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The differences between caterers and catering coordinators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a catering coordinator has an average salary of $34,576, 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 catering coordinator are food service, customer service, and food preparation.
| Caterer | Catering Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $28,891 | $34,576 |
| Hourly rate | $13.89 | $16.62 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 1,648 | 19,607 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| 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 catering coordinator's role is to oversee and manage food services in gatherings for special events, ensuring efficiency and client satisfaction. Their responsibilities revolve around planning and meeting with clients to learn their preferences, liaising with suppliers, managing schedules and inventory, and providing cost estimates. On the actual event, a catering coordinator is also responsible for welcoming guests, responding to any inquiries and concerns, resolving issues and urgent matters, and ensuring that everything is running smoothly. Furthermore, it is essential to lead and encourage the catering team while implementing all food and health policies and standards.
Caterers and catering coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Caterer | Catering Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $28,891 | $34,576 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $36,000 | Between $27,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Beverly, MA | Bay Shore, NY |
| Highest paying state | New York | New York |
| Best paying company | The College of St. Scholastica | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a caterer and a catering coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Caterer | Catering Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between caterers' and catering coordinators' demographics:
| Caterer | Catering Coordinator | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.0% Female, 57.0% | Male, 23.9% Female, 76.1% |
| 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, 10.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 6.3% White, 57.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |