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Food service/cashier vs cook/server

The differences between food service/cashiers 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 $28,481 average annual salary of a food service/cashier.

The top three skills for a food service/cashier include food service, POS and cleanliness. The most important skills for a cook/server are customer service, customer orders, and safety standards.

Food service/cashier vs cook/server overview

Food Service/CashierCook/Server
Yearly salary$28,481$29,716
Hourly rate$13.69$14.29
Growth rate14%14%
Number of jobs247,779257,582
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 48%High School Diploma, 52%
Average age2323
Years of experience--

What does a food service/cashier do?

Foodservice/cashiers are often employed at food restaurants and played various roles. Their duties include recording orders from customers and making sure their payments are collected. They are responsible for managing financial transactions and creating financial reports at the end of the day, making sure that order receipts correlate to the amount of money collected. They could also function as service members, welcoming customers and taking their orders politely, packaging them, and ensures that they are delivered promptly, taking in and resolving customer's queries and complaints. They can also be tasked to stock supplies and may help in cooking if the needs arise.

What does a cook/server do?

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 service/cashier vs cook/server salary

Food service/cashiers and cook/servers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Food Service/CashierCook/Server
Average salary$28,481$29,716
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $35,000Between $23,000 And $37,000
Highest paying CityMontclair, NJBellingham, WA
Highest paying stateNew HampshireAlaska
Best paying companyAspen School DistrictThe Harley School
Best paying industryRetailRetail

Differences between food service/cashier and cook/server education

There are a few differences between a food service/cashier and a cook/server in terms of educational background:

Food Service/CashierCook/Server
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 48%High School Diploma, 52%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Food service/cashier vs cook/server demographics

Here are the differences between food service/cashiers' and cook/servers' demographics:

Food Service/CashierCook/Server
Average age2323
Gender ratioMale, 28.3% Female, 71.7%Male, 45.9% Female, 54.1%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage8%8%

Differences between food service/cashier and cook/server duties and responsibilities

Food service/cashier example responsibilities.

  • Cashier, serve food, manage calls, drawer counting, heavy lifting, heavy use of POS system and filing.
  • Greet guests, take food and drink orders, prepare and assemble food items, maintain the cash drawer and POS system
  • Time management while delivering patients orders and providing exceptional customer service in a fast pace environment.
  • Order and receive supplies for culinary needs of the fleet.
  • Maintain food safety and quality by applying HACCP principles throughout service.
  • Load and unload commercial dishwashers.
  • Show more

Cook/server example responsibilities.

  • Develop ability to manage multiple stations simultaneously while maintaining high levels of culinary excellence.
  • Assist customers, bag groceries, replenish carts, and clean store.
  • Pay close attention to detail while multitasking between communicating over the intercom, utilizing the POS, and order placing.
  • Make smoothies, coffee, customer service, cashier, fill bakery cooler, inventory, stock, and clean!
  • Operate the filtration system used for the fryers to keep all sanitation guidelines up to standards as per the health department.
  • Operate, and maintain clean and safe cooking equipment like pressure cooker deep fryers, plate grills, and deep fryers.
  • Show more

Food service/cashier vs cook/server skills

Common food service/cashier skills
  • Food Service, 17%
  • POS, 13%
  • Cleanliness, 9%
  • Basic Math, 8%
  • Math, 7%
  • Customer Complaints, 7%
Common cook/server skills
  • Customer Service, 41%
  • Customer Orders, 8%
  • Safety Standards, 6%
  • Food Preparation, 5%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 4%
  • POS, 4%

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