Front line worker vs food runner/busser

The differences between front line workers and food runner/bussers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a front line worker has an average salary of $30,326, which is higher than the $28,577 average annual salary of a food runner/busser.

The top three skills for a front line worker include customer service, POS and food orders. The most important skills for a food runner/busser are cleanliness, wine, and excellent guest.

Front line worker vs food runner/busser overview

	Front Line Worker	Food Runner/Busser
Yearly salary	$30,326	$28,577
Hourly rate	$14.58	$13.74
Growth rate	14%	14%
Number of jobs	103,096	124,680
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 38%	High School Diploma, 42%
Average age	23	23
Years of experience	-	-

Front line worker vs food runner/busser salary

Front line workers and food runner/bussers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Front Line Worker	Food Runner/Busser
Average salary	$30,326	$28,577
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $35,000	Between $22,000 And $36,000
Highest paying City	-	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	-	New Hampshire
Best paying company	-	The Culinary Institute of America
Best paying industry	-	Hospitality

Differences between front line worker and food runner/busser education

There are a few differences between a front line worker and a food runner/busser in terms of educational background:

	Front Line Worker	Food Runner/Busser
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 38%	High School Diploma, 42%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Front line worker vs food runner/busser demographics

Here are the differences between front line workers' and food runner/bussers' demographics:

	Front Line Worker	Food Runner/Busser
Average age	23	23
Gender ratio	Male, 37.6% Female, 62.4%	Male, 75.4% Female, 24.6%
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%

Differences between front line worker and food runner/busser duties and responsibilities

Front line worker example responsibilities.

Replace or attach bar code labels on every ammunition containers for identification and location.
Replace or attach bar code labels on every ammunition containers for identification and location.

Food runner/busser example responsibilities.

Manage event reservations and party requests, inform customers about upcoming events and specials.
Educate and experience in fine dining experience, professional etiquette and wine knowledge
Operate a POS system, highly experience with cash handling methods.
Give assistance to clients at POS to ensure a pleasant shopping experience.
Note allergies and special accommodations on receipts to ensure customer safety and satisfaction.
Collaborate closely alongside coworkers to ensure customer satisfaction and overall cleanliness of the establishment.

Front line worker vs food runner/busser skills

Common front line worker skills

Customer Service, 64%
POS, 8%
Food Orders, 7%
Food Preparation, 5%
Assembly Line, 5%
Food Safety, 4%

Common food runner/busser skills

Cleanliness, 14%
Wine, 13%
Excellent Guest, 8%
Culinary, 6%
Water Glasses, 6%
Food Delivery, 5%

Front Line Worker vs. similar jobs

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Front Line Worker vs Food Runner/Busser

Updated January 8, 2025

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