Counter server vs restaurant server

The differences between counter servers and restaurant servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a counter server has an average salary of $32,460, which is higher than the $24,558 average annual salary of a restaurant server.

The top three skills for a counter server include food handling, excellent guest and basic math. The most important skills for a restaurant server are wine, exceptional dining, and guest satisfaction.

Counter server vs restaurant server overview

	Counter Server	Restaurant Server
Yearly salary	$32,460	$24,558
Hourly rate	$15.61	$11.81
Growth rate	14%	10%
Number of jobs	85,069	141,250
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 43%	Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Average age	23	28
Years of experience	-	-

Counter server vs restaurant server salary

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

	Counter Server	Restaurant Server
Average salary	$32,460	$24,558
Salary range	Between $24,000 And $43,000	Between $15,000 And $37,000
Highest paying City	-	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	University of California, Berkeley
Best paying industry	-	Agriculture

Differences between counter server and restaurant server education

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

	Counter Server	Restaurant Server
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 43%	Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Counter server vs restaurant server demographics

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

	Counter Server	Restaurant Server
Average age	23	28
Gender ratio	Male, 28.0% Female, 72.0%	Male, 40.8% Female, 59.2%
Race ratio	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%	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	8%	6%

Differences between counter server and restaurant server duties and responsibilities

Counter server example responsibilities.

Answer telephones and enter orders into POS system.
Operate POS terminal to process customers' orders, swipe credit cards, and enter cash amounts.
Provide guests with an excellent dining experience by asking questions about allergies or preferences and initiating conversation for customer confidence.
Prepare some salads, shakes, smoothies, and juices.
Monitor guest for intoxication and immediately report concerns to management.

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.

Counter server vs restaurant server skills

Common counter server skills

Food Handling, 24%
Excellent Guest, 19%
Basic Math, 14%
Wine, 9%
Cash Handling, 6%
Culinary, 6%

Common restaurant server skills

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

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Food Preparation and Restaurant Industry
Counter Server
Counter Server vs Restaurant Server

Updated January 8, 2025

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