Hostess vs room service server

The differences between hostesses and room service servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a room service server has an average salary of $26,717, 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 room service server are guest rooms, beverage orders, and in-room.

Hostess vs room service server overview

	Hostess	Room Service Server
Yearly salary	$26,298	$26,717
Hourly rate	$12.64	$12.84
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	82,629	144,551
Job satisfaction	4	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 37%	High School Diploma, 34%
Average age	23	39
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 room service server do?

A room service server is an employee employed in a hotel or lodging to provide various services to the room occupants in the hotel. They often deliver ordered food, drinks, or movies to the occupants' rooms. Their duties and responsibilities include delivery of ordered foods or drinks, taking orders, collecting dirty dishes from rooms, and maintaining supplies and orders.

Hostess vs room service server salary

Hostesses and room service servers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Hostess	Room Service Server
Average salary	$26,298	$26,717
Salary range	Between $20,000 And $34,000	Between $18,000 And $39,000
Highest paying City	Portland, ME	Portland, ME
Highest paying state	Maine	Maine
Best paying company	V-Soft Consulting	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Best paying industry	Hospitality	Hospitality

Differences between hostess and room service server education

There are a few differences between a hostess and a room service server in terms of educational background:

	Hostess	Room Service Server
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 37%	High School Diploma, 34%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Hostess vs room service server demographics

Here are the differences between hostesses' and room service servers' demographics:

	Hostess	Room Service Server
Average age	23	39
Gender ratio	Male, 14.1% Female, 85.9%	Male, 51.8% Female, 48.2%
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, 10.3% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 7.4% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage	5%	6%

Differences between hostess and room service 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.

Room service server example responsibilities.

Clean and defrost mini bars regularly.
Train, maintain and enforce all Marriott service standards using use records, menus and appropriate reference materials.
Perform various financial activities such as cash and credit card processing, daily revenue reports, bank deposits, and payroll.
Assist in weekly payroll and scheduling responsibilities.
Establish a positive relationship with co-workers and managers through a solid work ethic, positive attitude, punctuality and dependability.
Build relationships with guests -help prepare for restaurant opening -Maintain restaurant at all times -Persuasive- positive use of upselling techniques

Hostess vs room service server skills

Common hostess skills

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

Common room service server skills

Guest Rooms, 8%
Beverage Orders, 8%
In-Room, 6%
Cash Handling, 6%
Guest Service, 6%
Cleanliness, 6%

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Hostess vs Room Service Server

Updated January 8, 2025

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