Cocktail server vs restaurant server

The differences between cocktail servers and restaurant servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a cocktail server has an average salary of $26,178, which is higher than the $24,558 average annual salary of a restaurant server.

The top three skills for a cocktail server include wine, cash handling and beverage orders. The most important skills for a restaurant server are wine, exceptional dining, and guest satisfaction.

Cocktail server vs restaurant server overview

	Cocktail Server	Restaurant Server
Yearly salary	$26,178	$24,558
Hourly rate	$12.59	$11.81
Growth rate	10%	10%
Number of jobs	74,674	141,250
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 41%	Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Average age	28	28
Years of experience	-	-

What does a cocktail server do?

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.

What does a restaurant server do?

Also called food servers, restaurant servers perform food preparation, cleaning duties, and customer service in casual dining eateries and restaurants. The food servers stock supplies, handle credit cards and the cash register, and clean restaurant counters and tables. They provide assistance to restaurant patrons to take orders, deliver food, and answer customer questions. The skills they need include trustworthiness, organization, customer relations, and communication skills.

Cocktail server vs restaurant server salary

Cocktail servers and restaurant servers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Cocktail Server	Restaurant Server
Average salary	$26,178	$24,558
Salary range	Between $16,000 And $42,000	Between $15,000 And $37,000
Highest paying City	Seattle, WA	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	Washington	California
Best paying company	Aspen Snowmass	University of California, Berkeley
Best paying industry	Media	Agriculture

Differences between cocktail server and restaurant server education

There are a few differences between a cocktail server and a restaurant server in terms of educational background:

	Cocktail Server	Restaurant Server
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 41%	Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Cocktail server vs restaurant server demographics

Here are the differences between cocktail servers' and restaurant servers' demographics:

	Cocktail Server	Restaurant Server
Average age	28	28
Gender ratio	Male, 13.0% Female, 87.0%	Male, 40.8% Female, 59.2%
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, 10.9% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 9.4% White, 52.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between cocktail server and restaurant server duties and responsibilities

Cocktail server example responsibilities.

Ensure club cleanliness and provide amazing customer service to every individual.
Experience handling money and using a cash register, as well as the micros systems.
Take customers' orders and input into POS, run food, bus tables, help other servers as needed.
Provide a fun, safe and friendly atmosphere for customers, while providing excellent service serving cocktails, wine and beer.
Greet guests, take orders, correctly enter food and beverages into POS terminal, and ensure efficient delivery of both.
Fluctuate between all shifts and floors, assist in bartending, and becoming a top selling server within a few months.

Restaurant server example responsibilities.

Demonstrate adequate culinary and Italian wine knowledge through suggestive selling.
Input orders in micros and issue guest check for each order.
Prepare the groceries for the customer in their request baggage handing.3.
Maintain clean, sanitize FOH area and ensure health & safety and hygiene procedures and standards are meet.
Work with operations manager in ordering and setting up all FOH systems need in opening a new restaurant.
Provide thorough knowledge of the restaurant's menu to make recommendations or answer questions, and enter POS charges.

Cocktail server vs restaurant server skills

Common cocktail server skills

Wine, 13%
Cash Handling, 7%
Beverage Orders, 6%
Cleanliness, 6%
Guest Satisfaction, 6%
Customer Service, 5%

Common restaurant server skills

Wine, 28%
Exceptional Dining, 6%
Guest Satisfaction, 5%
Cleanliness, 5%
POS, 5%
Food Service, 5%

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Cocktail Server vs Restaurant Server

Updated January 8, 2025

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