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Fast food server vs food service worker

The differences between fast food servers and food service workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a fast food server has an average salary of $30,266, which is higher than the $28,753 average annual salary of a food service worker.

The top three skills for a fast food server include cleanliness, food orders and food handling. The most important skills for a food service worker are food handling, safety standards, and customer service.

Fast food server vs food service worker overview

Fast Food ServerFood Service Worker
Yearly salary$30,266$28,753
Hourly rate$14.55$13.82
Growth rate14%2%
Number of jobs182,816169,323
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 62%High School Diploma, 44%
Average age2337
Years of experience--

Fast food server vs food service worker salary

Fast food servers and food service workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Fast Food ServerFood Service Worker
Average salary$30,266$28,753
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $38,000Between $22,000 And $36,000
Highest paying City-Urban Honolulu, HI
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-University of California, Berkeley
Best paying industry-Retail

Differences between fast food server and food service worker education

There are a few differences between a fast food server and a food service worker in terms of educational background:

Fast Food ServerFood Service Worker
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 62%High School Diploma, 44%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Fast food server vs food service worker demographics

Here are the differences between fast food servers' and food service workers' demographics:

Fast Food ServerFood Service Worker
Average age2337
Gender ratioMale, 45.4% Female, 54.6%Male, 36.6% Female, 63.4%
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, 12.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 7.1% White, 58.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage8%6%

Differences between fast food server and food service worker duties and responsibilities

Fast food server example responsibilities.

  • Describe menu items and daily specials in detail and provide recommendations including wine pairing options.
  • Preform equipment maintenance to ensure proper tolerances for precise mowing conditions.

Food service worker example responsibilities.

  • Volunteer at rehabilitation center/ nursing home escorting and communicating with the patients.
  • Learned how to do math quickly and efficiently.
  • Demonstrate money-handling and math skills in processing payments for orders.
  • Prepare all food stuffs, roasting meats, baking cookies, preparing salads.
  • Work in full compliance with values of compassion, dignity, excellence, integrity, and team work.
  • Install and maintain HVAC systems which include walkin coolers and freezers, reach-ins and pass thru and a/c systems
  • Show more

Fast food server vs food service worker skills

Common fast food server skills
  • Cleanliness, 33%
  • Food Orders, 24%
  • Food Handling, 9%
  • Safety Standards, 8%
  • Drive-Thru, 7%
  • Customer Complaints, 5%
Common food service worker skills
  • Food Handling, 22%
  • Safety Standards, 9%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Patients, 7%
  • Cash Control, 4%
  • Rehabilitation, 4%

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