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The differences between food preps and food servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a food prep has an average salary of $25,840, which is higher than the $25,209 average annual salary of a food server.
The top three skills for a food prep include food service, food handling and taking care. The most important skills for a food server are beverage orders, wine, and cleanliness.
| Food Prep | Food Server | |
| Yearly salary | $25,840 | $25,209 |
| Hourly rate | $12.42 | $12.12 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 168,743 | 125,455 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 48% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Average age | 23 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
The primary duty of a food prep is to accomplish various food handling and preparation tasks according to the direction of supervisors, chefs, or cooks. One can work in different establishments or industry where there is food involved. Among the responsibilities will mostly revolve around doing light to moderate chores such as cleaning the kitchen and sanitizing utensils, preparing the required ingredients and ensure its quality and quantity, be in charge of food storage, and assist by performing basic cooking tasks.
A Food Server specializes in helping customers attain a pleasant dining experience while ensuring to meet all food handling and health regulation standards. Most of the responsibilities revolve around greeting customers and directing them to comfortable seats, responding to their inquires and taking their orders, and courteously suggesting options. Aside from serving meals, Food Servers must also accept payments, organize order receipts, replenish stocks in food containers and drinking stations, and clean tables for the new customers.
Food preps and food servers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Food Prep | Food Server | |
| Average salary | $25,840 | $25,209 |
| Salary range | Between $19,000 And $35,000 | Between $18,000 And $34,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Vermont |
| Best paying company | Grand Ledge High School | Gettysburg College |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Retail |
There are a few differences between a food prep and a food server in terms of educational background:
| Food Prep | Food Server | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 48% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between food preps' and food servers' demographics:
| Food Prep | Food Server | |
| Average age | 23 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.1% Female, 48.9% | 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% |