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The differences between food runners and food preparers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a food preparer has an average salary of $27,717, 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 food preparer are food handling, work ethic, and food products.
| Food Runner | Food Preparer | |
| Yearly salary | $25,536 | $27,717 |
| Hourly rate | $12.28 | $13.33 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 240,853 | 134,113 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| 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.
A food preparer or food preparation worker is the person who executes routine tasks under the supervision of chefs, food service managers, and cooks. Food preparation workers slice meat, cut vegetables, and prepare cold foods. They prepare ingredients of food for recipes as they assist cooks and chefs. Their duties and responsibilities include sifting, marinating, food safety, grating, and knife skills. They are also expected to weigh and measure dry and liquid ingredients.
Food runners and food preparers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Food Runner | Food Preparer | |
| Average salary | $25,536 | $27,717 |
| Salary range | Between $18,000 And $34,000 | Between $20,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Commack, NY |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | University of Massachusetts Boston | Mount Sinai Health System |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Retail |
There are a few differences between a food runner and a food preparer in terms of educational background:
| Food Runner | Food Preparer | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between food runners' and food preparers' demographics:
| Food Runner | Food Preparer | |
| Average age | 23 | 23 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.0% Female, 41.0% | Male, 46.6% Female, 53.4% |
| 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% |