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Crew member vs server

The differences between crew members and servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a server has an average salary of $29,901, which is higher than the $28,946 average annual salary of a crew member.

The top three skills for a crew member include cleanliness, basic math and english language. The most important skills for a server are wine, customer service, and guest satisfaction.

Crew member vs server overview

Crew MemberServer
Yearly salary$28,946$29,901
Hourly rate$13.92$14.38
Growth rate14%10%
Number of jobs239,413162,734
Job satisfaction4-
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age2328
Years of experience--

What does a crew member do?

Crew members assist in the overall daily operations of a business, including restaurants, hotels, resorts, and other industries needing a large workforce. Crew members' duties include attending on a customer's needs, processing payments, taking orders, and handling sanitation services. Crew members should have excellent time-management skills and ability to multi-task, especially for the fast-paced operations. They must also adhere to the safety standards and procedures as required by the business. Crew members should also report incidents and escalate concerns from the clients to the management as needed.

What does a server do?

A server is a restaurant employee assigned to the main dining area of the restaurant to primarily attend to the customer's needs. Servers assist guests to their tables, wait for the guests to be ready with their orders, and take the guests' orders. They should be knowledgeable about the restaurant's offerings since they should be able to answer any questions asked by the guests regarding the menu. They communicate the guests' orders to the kitchen crew and serve the orders once they are ready. Once the guests are finished eating, servers provide their bills upon their request and clean up the table when they leave. Servers should have excellent customer service skills and hospitality management skills.

Crew member vs server salary

Crew members and servers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Crew MemberServer
Average salary$28,946$29,901
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $37,000Between $21,000 And $42,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateAlaskaNew York
Best paying companyUniversity of California, BerkeleyDell
Best paying industryRetailHospitality

Differences between crew member and server education

There are a few differences between a crew member and a server in terms of educational background:

Crew MemberServer
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Crew member vs server demographics

Here are the differences between crew members' and servers' demographics:

Crew MemberServer
Average age2328
Gender ratioMale, 48.4% Female, 51.6%Male, 32.0% Female, 68.0%
Race ratioBlack 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, 12.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 8.2% White, 54.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%6%

Differences between crew member and server duties and responsibilities

Crew member example responsibilities.

  • Manage food preparation, maintain cleanliness and punctuality while effectively support customers in daily transactions with suggestive selling methods.
  • Dig and fill holes, using shovels and rakes.
  • Cashier, server, greeter, order taker, sandwich maker, computer skil, math skil, customer service
  • Demonstrate excellent customer service in dealing with concerns and special food orders which include allergies and other customer wishes.
  • Cashier experience, service and enter orders into POS system; conduct inventory; and perform cash handling and food handling.
  • Use POS system to record order, compute bill, collect payments and make change while following all cash handling procedures.
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Server example responsibilities.

  • Manage expediter window paying close attention to garnishes and presentation.
  • Provide exceptional customer service, while frequently checking for food allergies, by utilizing excellent communication and multitasking skills.
  • Maximize profits by upselling food and alcoholic beverages and utilizing excellent customer service skills to ensure guests repeat business.
  • Clean bars, work areas, and tables.
  • Provide exceptional service to guests with charm, professionalism, respect, and bright personality.
  • Embrace serving on a more personal level due the quaint, small-town charm of the location.
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Crew member vs server skills

Common crew member skills
  • Cleanliness, 19%
  • Basic Math, 13%
  • English Language, 10%
  • Excellent Guest, 7%
  • Safety Standards, 7%
  • Food Products, 5%
Common server skills
  • Wine, 15%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Guest Satisfaction, 8%
  • Cleanliness, 7%
  • Cash Handling, 7%
  • POS, 6%

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