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The differences between food runner/bussers and cook/servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a cook/server has an average salary of $29,716, which is higher than the $28,577 average annual salary of a food runner/busser.
The top three skills for a food runner/busser include cleanliness, wine and excellent guest. The most important skills for a cook/server are customer service, customer orders, and safety standards.
| Food Runner/Busser | Cook/Server | |
| Yearly salary | $28,577 | $29,716 |
| Hourly rate | $13.74 | $14.29 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 124,680 | 257,582 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 52% |
| Average age | 23 | 23 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A food runner or busser is an employee who works at a restaurant to provide quality food services to customers and patrons. Food runners or bussers perform food preparation and ensure that foods are delivered promptly to the appropriate customers' tables. In case the bar server is busy, food runners or bussers may take the drink orders of customers at the bar counter. They also make sure that tables are bussed, cleaned, and set up for the next paying customers.
Cooks/servers are employees who take on the dual role of being a cook and a server in the restaurant. They are usually trained cooks who are in charge of preparing meals for the guests. They prepare ingredients, cook them according to the recipe, and serve them to guests. They are responsible for ensuring that the food is prepared and served to guests within the promised time. They are in charge of managing the pantry, ensuring that the stock is fresh, and checking whether the stock is low. They are expected to have culinary skills, precision, and time management skills.
Food runner/bussers and cook/servers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Food Runner/Busser | Cook/Server | |
| Average salary | $28,577 | $29,716 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $36,000 | Between $23,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Bellingham, WA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | Alaska |
| Best paying company | The Culinary Institute of America | The Harley School |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Retail |
There are a few differences between a food runner/busser and a cook/server in terms of educational background:
| Food Runner/Busser | Cook/Server | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 52% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between food runner/bussers' and cook/servers' demographics:
| Food Runner/Busser | Cook/Server | |
| Average age | 23 | 23 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.4% Female, 24.6% | Male, 45.9% Female, 54.1% |
| 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, 9.6% Unknown, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.5% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |