Food counter worker vs food server

The differences between food counter workers and food servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a food server has an average salary of $25,209, which is higher than the $25,007 average annual salary of a food counter worker.

The top three skills for a food counter worker include food handling, basic math and safety standards. The most important skills for a food server are beverage orders, wine, and cleanliness.

Food counter worker vs food server overview

	Food Counter Worker	Food Server
Yearly salary	$25,007	$25,209
Hourly rate	$12.02	$12.12
Growth rate	14%	9%
Number of jobs	74,035	125,455
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 36%	High School Diploma, 36%
Average age	23	42
Years of experience	-	-

Food counter worker vs food server salary

Food counter workers and food servers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Food Counter Worker	Food Server
Average salary	$25,007	$25,209
Salary range	Between $18,000 And $33,000	Between $18,000 And $34,000
Highest paying City	Andover, MA	Los Angeles, CA
Highest paying state	North Dakota	Vermont
Best paying company	UC Merced	Gettysburg College
Best paying industry	Start-up	Retail

Differences between food counter worker and food server education

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

	Food Counter Worker	Food Server
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 36%	High School Diploma, 36%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Food counter worker vs food server demographics

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

	Food Counter Worker	Food Server
Average age	23	42
Gender ratio	Male, 41.2% Female, 58.8%	Male, 36.0% Female, 64.0%
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, 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	8%	7%

Differences between food counter worker and food server duties and responsibilities

Food counter worker example responsibilities.

Provide coffee and pastries for customers, make coffee and smoothies.
Assist with planning and directing food preparation and culinary activities along with safely handling and storing all products appropriately.
Sandwich making, cutting vegetables, cleaning fryers, washing dishes, cleaning of the dining area and cleaning the bathrooms.
Prepare personalized smoothies and meals for customers

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.

Food counter worker vs food server skills

Common food counter worker skills

Food Handling, 29%
Basic Math, 18%
Safety Standards, 16%
Cleanliness, 12%
Customer Complaints, 5%
Customer Service, 4%

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 Counter Worker vs Food Server

Updated January 8, 2025

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