Head server vs restaurant server

The differences between head servers and restaurant 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 $24,558 average annual salary of a restaurant server.

The top three skills for a head server include customer service, new servers and POS. The most important skills for a restaurant server are wine, exceptional dining, and guest satisfaction.

Head server vs restaurant server overview

	Head Server	Restaurant Server
Yearly salary	$111,194	$24,558
Hourly rate	$53.46	$11.81
Growth rate	10%	10%
Number of jobs	64,405	141,250
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 49%	Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Average age	28	28
Years of experience	-	-

What does a head server do?

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.

What does a restaurant server do?

Also called food servers, restaurant servers perform food preparation, cleaning duties, and customer service in casual dining eateries and restaurants. The food servers stock supplies, handle credit cards and the cash register, and clean restaurant counters and tables. They provide assistance to restaurant patrons to take orders, deliver food, and answer customer questions. The skills they need include trustworthiness, organization, customer relations, and communication skills.

Head server vs restaurant server salary

Head servers and restaurant servers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Head Server	Restaurant Server
Average salary	$111,194	$24,558
Salary range	Between $51,000 And $238,000	Between $15,000 And $37,000
Highest paying City	-	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	University of California, Berkeley
Best paying industry	-	Agriculture

Differences between head server and restaurant server education

There are a few differences between a head server and a restaurant server in terms of educational background:

	Head Server	Restaurant Server
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 49%	Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Head server vs restaurant server demographics

Here are the differences between head servers' and restaurant servers' demographics:

	Head Server	Restaurant Server
Average age	28	28
Gender ratio	Male, 34.4% Female, 65.6%	Male, 40.8% Female, 59.2%
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, 10.9% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 9.4% White, 52.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between head server and restaurant server duties and responsibilities

Head server example responsibilities.

Train and manage all BOH employees.
Manage all servers' end of night cash out and prepare host and bartending tip out.
Manage opening and closing duties, including restocking items and insuring the FOH are clean and shut down correctly.
Manage technical support, business analysis, project management, application development and support, training, and facilitation.
Help drive and increase restaurant sales by upselling and highlighting off menu items.
Train new employees on operating the micros system and on self-presentation and customer service.

Restaurant server example responsibilities.

Demonstrate adequate culinary and Italian wine knowledge through suggestive selling.
Input orders in micros and issue guest check for each order.
Prepare the groceries for the customer in their request baggage handing.3.
Maintain clean, sanitize FOH area and ensure health & safety and hygiene procedures and standards are meet.
Work with operations manager in ordering and setting up all FOH systems need in opening a new restaurant.
Provide thorough knowledge of the restaurant's menu to make recommendations or answer questions, and enter POS charges.

Head server vs restaurant server skills

Common head server skills

Customer Service, 33%
New Servers, 9%
POS, 6%
Fine Dining, 5%
Bartending, 4%
Safety Procedures, 3%

Common restaurant server skills

Wine, 28%
Exceptional Dining, 6%
Guest Satisfaction, 5%
Cleanliness, 5%
POS, 5%
Food Service, 5%

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Food Preparation and Restaurant Industry
Head Server
Head Server vs Restaurant Server

Updated January 8, 2025

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