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The differences between food service specialists and bar managers/bartender can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a food service specialist has an average salary of $29,286, which is higher than the $25,051 average annual salary of a bar manager/bartender.
The top three skills for a food service specialist include kitchen equipment, preventive maintenance and MOS. The most important skills for a bar manager/bartender are wine, bartending, and cleanliness.
| Food Service Specialist | Bar Manager/Bartender | |
| Yearly salary | $29,286 | $25,051 |
| Hourly rate | $14.08 | $12.04 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 18% |
| Number of jobs | 95,112 | 59,783 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
The food service specialists monitor food preparation, ensuring that the guests get their correct orders, providing them the best dining experience and satisfaction. A food service specialist takes the guests' orders, processes their payments, and serves their orders timely and efficiently. They also monitor the stock inventories, coordinate with suppliers and third-party vendors for stock requests, and assist with kitchen duties as needed, especially on high volume days. A food service specialist must have a broad knowledge of the food services industry, analyzing the current food trends to make suggestions for menus, and responding to the guests' concerns.
A bar manager/bartender is responsible for handling daily bar operations to achieve the highest customer satisfaction. Bar manager/bartenders often interact with guests, responding to their inquiries and special requests, and immediately resolving service complaints. They also develop marketing strategies to attract guests by updating menu information and researching the latest market trends. Bar managers/bartenders also monitor inventories and stock supplies, coordinating with third-party vendors, and negotiating contracts with trusted suppliers. A bar manager/bartender must have excellent leadership skills and oversee the compliance of all staff to the bar regulations and safety standards.
Food service specialists and bar managers/bartender have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Food Service Specialist | Bar Manager/Bartender | |
| Average salary | $29,286 | $25,051 |
| Salary range | Between $19,000 And $43,000 | Between $17,000 And $36,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | - |
| Highest paying state | New York | - |
| Best paying company | Brookhaven National Laboratory | - |
| Best paying industry | Government | - |
There are a few differences between a food service specialist and a bar manager/bartender in terms of educational background:
| Food Service Specialist | Bar Manager/Bartender | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between food service specialists' and bar managers/bartender' demographics:
| Food Service Specialist | Bar Manager/Bartender | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 57.1% Female, 42.9% | Male, 48.5% Female, 51.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 6.7% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 5.6% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |