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Lead server vs fine dining server

The differences between lead servers 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 $28,677 average annual salary of a lead server.

The top three skills for a lead server include customer service, new servers and fine dining. The most important skills for a fine dining server are wine, fine dining, and cleanliness.

Lead server vs fine dining server overview

Lead ServerFine Dining Server
Yearly salary$28,677$32,140
Hourly rate$13.79$15.45
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs123,21577,549
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age2828
Years of experience--

What does a lead server do?

A lead server is responsible for assisting the guests' needs, responding to their inquiries, and immediately addressing their dining concerns. Lead servers ensure the timely and accurate serving of orders, offering promotional menus and other additional services. Lead servers must have excellent communication skills to interact with the guests, as well as time-management and multitasking skills to perform duties in the fast-paced environment. They also help in developing strategic procedures and food menu recommendations by researching on the latest food trends in the industry to generate revenues and attract more customers.

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.

Lead server vs fine dining server salary

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

Lead ServerFine Dining Server
Average salary$28,677$32,140
Salary rangeBetween $11,000 And $70,000Between $21,000 And $47,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NY-
Highest paying stateHawaii-
Best paying companyMicrosoft-
Best paying industryHospitality-

Differences between lead server and fine dining server education

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

Lead ServerFine Dining Server
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Lead server vs fine dining server demographics

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

Lead ServerFine Dining Server
Average age2828
Gender ratioMale, 37.5% Female, 62.5%Male, 39.6% Female, 60.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 8.7% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%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 Percentage6%6%

Differences between lead server and fine dining server duties and responsibilities

Lead server example responsibilities.

  • Establish payroll policies and manage multiple areas of restaurant operations.
  • Manage technical support, business analysis, project management, application development and support, training, and facilitation.
  • Provide leadership to crew and shift managers guaranteeing great quality, customer service and cleanliness according to the public health code.
  • Train new employees on police, procedures, and micros system.
  • Take orders from customers, input orders into micros, and obtain payment and provide change.
  • Execute bartending duties and prepare service bar drinks (wine tasting flights, glass pours, cocktails, etc . )
  • Show more

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.
  • Show more

Lead server vs fine dining server skills

Common lead server skills
  • Customer Service, 22%
  • New Servers, 11%
  • Fine Dining, 9%
  • POS, 7%
  • Food Service, 6%
  • Guest Satisfaction, 4%
Common fine dining server skills
  • Wine, 27%
  • Fine Dining, 24%
  • Cleanliness, 7%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Beverage Orders, 4%
  • POS, 4%

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