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The differences between food runners 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 $25,536 average annual salary of a food runner.
The top three skills for a food runner include cleanliness, wine and culinary. The most important skills for a cook/server are customer service, customer orders, and safety standards.
| Food Runner | Cook/Server | |
| Yearly salary | $25,536 | $29,716 |
| Hourly rate | $12.28 | $14.29 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 240,853 | 257,582 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 52% |
| Average age | 23 | 23 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Food Runners are responsible for assisting waitstaff on serving customers at a restaurant or similar establishment. Among their duties include maintaining cleanliness in particular areas, setting tables, refilling drinks, assisting customers with everything that they need, and coordinating with the workforce in and out of the kitchen. Furthermore, Food Runners need to ensure that all deliveries are accurate according to what is ordered by a customer. It is essential to stay presentable and helpful at all times as the main priority is customer satisfaction.
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 runners and cook/servers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Food Runner | Cook/Server | |
| Average salary | $25,536 | $29,716 |
| Salary range | Between $18,000 And $34,000 | Between $23,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Bellingham, WA |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | Alaska |
| Best paying company | University of Massachusetts Boston | The Harley School |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Retail |
There are a few differences between a food runner and a cook/server in terms of educational background:
| Food Runner | Cook/Server | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 52% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between food runners' and cook/servers' demographics:
| Food Runner | Cook/Server | |
| Average age | 23 | 23 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.0% Female, 41.0% | 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% |