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The differences between head servers and lead servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a head server has an average salary of $111,194, which is higher than the $28,677 average annual salary of a lead server.
The top three skills for a head server include customer service, new servers and POS. The most important skills for a lead server are customer service, new servers, and fine dining.
| Head Server | Lead Server | |
| Yearly salary | $111,194 | $28,677 |
| Hourly rate | $53.46 | $13.79 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 64,405 | 123,215 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 28 | 28 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A head server is primarily in charge of supervising waiters in a restaurant or similar setting, ensuring customer satisfaction. Aside from leading a team of servers, they also assist customers by offering menus, taking and serving orders, even providing suggestions when needed. Moreover, they usually delegate tasks, manage schedules, respond to inquiries, and address issues and concerns, giving corrective measures. As a head server, it is also essential to lead and encourage the team, all while implementing the restaurant's policies and health standards.
A lead server is responsible for assisting the guests' needs, responding to their inquiries, and immediately addressing their dining concerns. Lead servers ensure the timely and accurate serving of orders, offering promotional menus and other additional services. Lead servers must have excellent communication skills to interact with the guests, as well as time-management and multitasking skills to perform duties in the fast-paced environment. They also help in developing strategic procedures and food menu recommendations by researching on the latest food trends in the industry to generate revenues and attract more customers.
Head servers and lead servers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Head Server | Lead Server | |
| Average salary | $111,194 | $28,677 |
| Salary range | Between $51,000 And $238,000 | Between $11,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | - | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | - | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | - | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a head server and a lead server in terms of educational background:
| Head Server | Lead Server | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between head servers' and lead servers' demographics:
| Head Server | Lead Server | |
| Average age | 28 | 28 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.4% Female, 65.6% | Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 9.3% White, 54.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 8.7% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |