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Dietary aide vs server

The differences between dietary aides 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 $28,005 average annual salary of a dietary aide.

The top three skills for a dietary aide include patients, meal trays and food service. The most important skills for a server are wine, customer service, and guest satisfaction.

Dietary aide vs server overview

Dietary AideServer
Yearly salary$28,005$29,901
Hourly rate$13.46$14.38
Growth rate9%10%
Number of jobs44,494162,734
Job satisfaction3-
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age4128
Years of experience2-

What does a dietary aide do?

A dietary aide is responsible for assisting food preparations and ensuring that the meals adhere to an individual's specific diet plans. Dietary aides must strictly follow sanitation standards and hygiene procedures to guarantee the safety and quality of the service. They also help in facilitating kitchen maintenance, keeping every area clean and organized. Dietary aides must also have comprehensive knowledge of nutritional guidelines to provide information and share suggestions as necessary to improve the service and preparations.

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.

Dietary aide vs server salary

Dietary aides and servers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Dietary AideServer
Average salary$28,005$29,901
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $35,000Between $21,000 And $42,000
Highest paying CityVancouver, WAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateWashingtonNew York
Best paying companyLifespanDell
Best paying industryHospitalityHospitality

Differences between dietary aide and server education

There are a few differences between a dietary aide and a server in terms of educational background:

Dietary AideServer
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Dietary aide vs server demographics

Here are the differences between dietary aides' and servers' demographics:

Dietary AideServer
Average age4128
Gender ratioMale, 28.2% Female, 71.8%Male, 32.0% Female, 68.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 14.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 5.8% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%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 Percentage6%6%

Differences between dietary aide and server duties and responsibilities

Dietary aide example responsibilities.

  • Use of slicers, grinders, deep fryers, ovens, grills and cash register.
  • Prepare cooked foods following HACCP guidelines.
  • Operate stoves, grills, fryers, ovens and microwaves.
  • Interview WIC applicants for income eligibility, nutrition foods, and health.
  • Train employees as hired to complete all assign tasks according to ServSafe guidelines.
  • Maintain a clean kitchen by cleaning the oven and stoves sweeping and mopping.
  • Show more

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.
  • Show more

Dietary aide vs server skills

Common dietary aide skills
  • Patients, 15%
  • Meal Trays, 13%
  • Food Service, 11%
  • Food Handling, 9%
  • Food Carts, 6%
  • Tray Line, 5%
Common server skills
  • Wine, 15%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Guest Satisfaction, 8%
  • Cleanliness, 7%
  • Cash Handling, 7%
  • POS, 6%

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