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The differences between cocktail servers and line servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a line server has an average salary of $28,300, which is higher than the $26,178 average annual salary of a cocktail server.
The top three skills for a cocktail server include wine, cash handling and beverage orders. The most important skills for a line server are customer service, quality customer service, and exceptional guest.
| Cocktail Server | Line Server | |
| Yearly salary | $26,178 | $28,300 |
| Hourly rate | $12.59 | $13.61 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 74,674 | 246,165 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| Average age | 28 | 23 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A cocktail server's responsibilities revolve around taking orders and serving drinks in a restaurant or similar establishment, ensuring accuracy and customer satisfaction. Aside from this, a cocktail server may have to process payments, clean tables, and even offer suggestions when necessary. They also have to be alert for any signs of disruptive behavior from intoxicated to underage customers. Furthermore, it is essential to communicate and coordinate with the bartender and other kitchen staff to ensure that every patron gets their order, especially on days when there's a high customer presence.
A line server is responsible for assisting the guests with their needs to ensure an overall satisfying dining experience with the highest quality service. Line servers take and verify guests' orders, provide recommendation for orders, respond to the guests' inquiries regarding the menu, manage the food preparation and serving, assist guests with additional requests, and ensure strict adherence to the sanitary standards and hygienic procedures at all times. Line servers must have excellent communication and time-management skills to interact with different guests and identify their dining needs.
Cocktail servers and line servers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cocktail Server | Line Server | |
| Average salary | $26,178 | $28,300 |
| Salary range | Between $16,000 And $42,000 | Between $21,000 And $36,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | - |
| Highest paying state | Washington | - |
| Best paying company | Aspen Snowmass | - |
| Best paying industry | Media | - |
There are a few differences between a cocktail server and a line server in terms of educational background:
| Cocktail Server | Line Server | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between cocktail servers' and line servers' demographics:
| Cocktail Server | Line Server | |
| Average age | 28 | 23 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 13.0% Female, 87.0% | Male, 33.7% Female, 66.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 22.8% Asian, 8.1% White, 51.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | 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 | 6% | 8% |