Cook and waitress/waiter vs food server

The differences between cook and waitresses/waiter and food servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a cook and waitress/waiter has an average salary of $27,271, which is higher than the $25,209 average annual salary of a food server.

The top three skills for a cook and waitress/waiter include food handling, customer service and waiter. The most important skills for a food server are beverage orders, wine, and cleanliness.

Cook and waitress/waiter vs food server overview

	Cook And Waitress/Waiter	Food Server
Yearly salary	$27,271	$25,209
Hourly rate	$13.11	$12.12
Growth rate	10%	9%
Number of jobs	268,608	125,455
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 42%	High School Diploma, 36%
Average age	28	42
Years of experience	-	-

Cook and waitress/waiter vs food server salary

Cook and waitresses/waiter and food servers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Cook And Waitress/Waiter	Food Server
Average salary	$27,271	$25,209
Salary range	Between $20,000 And $36,000	Between $18,000 And $34,000
Highest paying City	-	Los Angeles, CA
Highest paying state	-	Vermont
Best paying company	-	Gettysburg College
Best paying industry	-	Retail

Differences between cook and waitress/waiter and food server education

There are a few differences between a cook and waitress/waiter and a food server in terms of educational background:

	Cook And Waitress/Waiter	Food Server
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 42%	High School Diploma, 36%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Cook and waitress/waiter vs food server demographics

Here are the differences between cook and waitresses/waiter' and food servers' demographics:

	Cook And Waitress/Waiter	Food Server
Average age	28	42
Gender ratio	Male, 74.8% Female, 25.2%	Male, 36.0% Female, 64.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 8.7% White, 54.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.4% Asian, 8.7% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	6%	7%

Differences between cook and waitress/waiter and food server duties and responsibilities

Cook and waitress/waiter example responsibilities.

Enter orders into a POS system to be send to the kitchen.
Assist in cashier duties using POS system to make all monetary transactions of food items.
Develop relationships with regular patrons; develop an understanding of their personal needs and expectations, including preferences and food allergies.
Service of drinks, cocktails and food in a busy, members only VIP environment.

Food server example responsibilities.

Manage expediter window paying close attention to garnishes and presentation.
Provide outstanding customer service by communicating clearly and effectively while maintaining the cleanliness and organization of the restaurant.
Serve tables in a busy caf /bar environment.
Handle all transactions, both in person and by headset in drive-thru.
Work the Drive-Thru counter assisting numerous customers at a fast and friendly pace.
Prepare and serve delicious espresso, coffee drinks, and smoothies according to memorize recipes.

Cook and waitress/waiter vs food server skills

Common cook and waitress/waiter skills

Food Handling, 58%
Customer Service, 14%
Waiter, 5%
Food Orders, 3%
Food Service, 2%
Food Preparation, 2%

Common food server skills

Beverage Orders, 10%
Wine, 9%
Cleanliness, 9%
Customer Service, 9%
Guest Service, 6%
Cash Handling, 5%

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Food Preparation and Restaurant Industry
Cook And Waitress/Waiter
Cook And Waitress/Waiter vs Food Server

Updated January 8, 2025

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