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The differences between head servers and server managers 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 $61,639 average annual salary of a server manager.
The top three skills for a head server include customer service, new servers and POS. The most important skills for a server manager are customer service, payroll, and POS.
| Head Server | Server Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $111,194 | $61,639 |
| Hourly rate | $53.46 | $29.63 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 64,405 | 153,999 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 28 | 39 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
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.
As the name entails, server managers are responsible for managing and overseeing the serving areas in restaurants. This role is associated with several tasks, including checking the appearance of servers, checking a server's knowledge of the restaurant's daily specials and menu items, and greeting the customers. Additional tasks may include assisting new serving crews and evaluating their self-reliance and capabilities, managing the schedule of servers, and organizing staff training. The skills needed for this position may include excellent customer service skills, leadership skills, and communication skills.
Head servers and server managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Head Server | Server Manager | |
| Average salary | $111,194 | $61,639 |
| Salary range | Between $51,000 And $238,000 | Between $23,000 And $162,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a head server and a server manager in terms of educational background:
| Head Server | Server Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between head servers' and server managers' demographics:
| Head Server | Server Manager | |
| Average age | 28 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.4% Female, 65.6% | Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7% |
| 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, 10.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 8.6% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 10% |