Informal waiter/waitress vs cocktail server

The differences between informal waiter/waitresses and cocktail servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a cocktail server has an average salary of $26,178, which is higher than the $24,354 average annual salary of an informal waiter/waitress.

The top three skills for an informal waiter/waitress include beverage orders, waiter and customer service. The most important skills for a cocktail server are wine, cash handling, and beverage orders.

Informal waiter/waitress vs cocktail server overview

	Informal Waiter/Waitress	Cocktail Server
Yearly salary	$24,354	$26,178
Hourly rate	$11.71	$12.59
Growth rate	10%	10%
Number of jobs	3,660	74,674
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 41%
Average age	28	28
Years of experience	-	-

What does an informal waiter/waitress do?

An informal waiter/waitress is primarily in charge of serving patrons in coffee shops, fast-food chains, and other similar dining establishments, ensuring efficiency and customer satisfaction. Their responsibilities revolve around coordinating with kitchen and management staff, greeting and welcoming customers, providing menus and answering inquiries, offering suggestions, and serving the customers' orders promptly and accurately. They may also process payments or provide other assistance as needed. Furthermore, an informal waiter/waitress must maintain the cleanliness of tables and workspaces, ensuring a safe and healthy environment for everyone.

What does a cocktail server do?

A cocktail server's responsibilities revolve around taking orders and serving drinks in a restaurant or similar establishment, ensuring accuracy and customer satisfaction. Aside from this, a cocktail server may have to process payments, clean tables, and even offer suggestions when necessary. They also have to be alert for any signs of disruptive behavior from intoxicated to underage customers. Furthermore, it is essential to communicate and coordinate with the bartender and other kitchen staff to ensure that every patron gets their order, especially on days when there's a high customer presence.

Informal waiter/waitress vs cocktail server salary

Informal waiter/waitresses and cocktail servers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Informal Waiter/Waitress	Cocktail Server
Average salary	$24,354	$26,178
Salary range	Between $16,000 And $36,000	Between $16,000 And $42,000
Highest paying City	Saratoga Springs, NY	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	New York	Washington
Best paying company	Aspen Snowmass	Aspen Snowmass
Best paying industry	Hospitality	Media

Differences between informal waiter/waitress and cocktail server education

There are a few differences between an informal waiter/waitress and a cocktail server in terms of educational background:

	Informal Waiter/Waitress	Cocktail Server
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 41%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Informal waiter/waitress vs cocktail server demographics

Here are the differences between informal waiter/waitresses' and cocktail servers' demographics:

	Informal Waiter/Waitress	Cocktail Server
Average age	28	28
Gender ratio	Male, 23.3% Female, 76.7%	Male, 13.0% Female, 87.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 8.7% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 22.8% Asian, 8.1% White, 51.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between informal waiter/waitress and cocktail server duties and responsibilities

Informal waiter/waitress example responsibilities.

Train in bartending duties, knowledgeable of preparation of alcoholic beverages.
Request and record customer orders, and totale orders using the POS system.
Help bartending when staff are short.
Fix POS computers, printers, and credit card systems above and beyond job responsibilities.
Start as a busboy and are quickly promote to a waiter when a spot are made available.
Develop relationships with regular patrons; develop an understanding of their personal needs and expectations, including preferences and food allergies.

Cocktail server example responsibilities.

Ensure club cleanliness and provide amazing customer service to every individual.
Experience handling money and using a cash register, as well as the micros systems.
Take customers' orders and input into POS, run food, bus tables, help other servers as needed.
Provide a fun, safe and friendly atmosphere for customers, while providing excellent service serving cocktails, wine and beer.
Greet guests, take orders, correctly enter food and beverages into POS terminal, and ensure efficient delivery of both.
Fluctuate between all shifts and floors, assist in bartending, and becoming a top selling server within a few months.

Informal waiter/waitress vs cocktail server skills

Common informal waiter/waitress skills

Beverage Orders, 48%
Waiter, 18%
Customer Service, 12%
Food Service, 9%
Fine Dining, 3%
Wine, 2%

Common cocktail server skills

Wine, 13%
Cash Handling, 7%
Beverage Orders, 6%
Cleanliness, 6%
Guest Satisfaction, 6%
Customer Service, 5%

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Food Preparation and Restaurant Industry
Informal Waiter/Waitress
Informal Waiter/Waitress vs Cocktail Server

Updated January 8, 2025

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