Hostess vs fine dining server

The differences between hostesses and fine dining servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a fine dining server has an average salary of $32,140, which is higher than the $26,298 average annual salary of a hostess.

The top three skills for a hostess include reservations, exceptional guest and seat guests. The most important skills for a fine dining server are wine, fine dining, and cleanliness.

Hostess vs fine dining server overview

	Hostess	Fine Dining Server
Yearly salary	$26,298	$32,140
Hourly rate	$12.64	$15.45
Growth rate	9%	10%
Number of jobs	82,629	77,549
Job satisfaction	4	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 37%	Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age	23	28
Years of experience	-	-

What does a hostess do?

Hostesses are responsible for managing guests who come to the restaurant. They greet guests, ensure that the guests have tables ready before letting them into the restaurant floor, guide the guests to their assigned tables, and introduce the guests to the waiter assigned to the table. Hostesses also manage the reservation list, often manning the restaurant's reservation hotline. They also control the entry of guests, answer any query that guests may have, and take note of any special requests. Hostesses ensure that guests have the best possible restaurant experience.

What does a fine dining server do?

Fine dining servers the people who make your stay at a restaurant enjoyable. They deliver well-written orders for the kitchen to prepare and bring your food and beverage. Being a fine dining server is no easy task, as certain skill sets need to be met in order to become an effective dining server. An efficient server is detail-oriented, observant to the needs of the diners, and intuitive. An extensive knowledge of wines and other specific food categories may be required depending on the restaurant.

Hostess vs fine dining server salary

Hostesses and fine dining servers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Hostess	Fine Dining Server
Average salary	$26,298	$32,140
Salary range	Between $20,000 And $34,000	Between $21,000 And $47,000
Highest paying City	Portland, ME	-
Highest paying state	Maine	-
Best paying company	V-Soft Consulting	-
Best paying industry	Hospitality	-

Differences between hostess and fine dining server education

There are a few differences between a hostess and a fine dining server in terms of educational background:

	Hostess	Fine Dining Server
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 37%	Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Hostess vs fine dining server demographics

Here are the differences between hostesses' and fine dining servers' demographics:

	Hostess	Fine Dining Server
Average age	23	28
Gender ratio	Male, 14.1% Female, 85.9%	Male, 39.6% Female, 60.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 6.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 5.8% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.6% Asian, 8.2% White, 54.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	5%	6%

Differences between hostess and fine dining server duties and responsibilities

Hostess example responsibilities.

Assist guests in booking reservations and manage guest history data using OpenTable reservation system.
Welcome guests upon arrival and provide seating arrangements base upon OpenTable reservations and guest preference.
Greet by name and escort patrons to their personalize private dining area while coordinating reservations and exemplifying customer service
Help bar back when need and learned minimal skills in bartending.
Make managers aware of guests' special dining requirements and allergies.
Set up and maintain continental breakfast buffet, hors d'oeuvres and VIP bar.

Fine dining server example responsibilities.

Schedule and prioritize workload while managing multiple tasks as a representative of this distinctive establishment frequent by wine enthusiasts.
Maintain Microsoft windows base computer system.
Work closely with management to implement new organizational systems to facilitate efficient wine service and inventory.
Craft featured cocktails and signature drinks when bartending.
Inform chefs if guests have any allergies or other requests.
Maintain cleanliness of work areas, china, glass, etc., throughout the day.

Hostess vs fine dining server skills

Common hostess skills

Reservations, 49%
Exceptional Guest, 9%
Seat Guests, 4%
To-Go Orders, 4%
Bus Tables, 3%
Telephone Calls, 2%

Common fine dining server skills

Wine, 27%
Fine Dining, 24%
Cleanliness, 7%
Customer Service, 5%
Beverage Orders, 4%
POS, 4%

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Hostess vs Fine Dining Server

Updated January 8, 2025

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