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The differences between hostesses and food runner/bussers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a food runner/busser has an average salary of $28,577, 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 food runner/busser are cleanliness, wine, and excellent guest.
| Hostess | Food Runner/Busser | |
| Yearly salary | $26,298 | $28,577 |
| Hourly rate | $12.64 | $13.74 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 82,629 | 124,680 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 23 | 23 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
A food runner or busser is an employee who works at a restaurant to provide quality food services to customers and patrons. Food runners or bussers perform food preparation and ensure that foods are delivered promptly to the appropriate customers' tables. In case the bar server is busy, food runners or bussers may take the drink orders of customers at the bar counter. They also make sure that tables are bussed, cleaned, and set up for the next paying customers.
Hostesses and food runner/bussers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Hostess | Food Runner/Busser | |
| Average salary | $26,298 | $28,577 |
| Salary range | Between $20,000 And $34,000 | Between $22,000 And $36,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, ME | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Maine | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | V-Soft Consulting | The Culinary Institute of America |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a hostess and a food runner/busser in terms of educational background:
| Hostess | Food Runner/Busser | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between hostesses' and food runner/bussers' demographics:
| Hostess | Food Runner/Busser | |
| Average age | 23 | 23 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 14.1% Female, 85.9% | Male, 75.4% Female, 24.6% |
| 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, 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 | 5% | 8% |