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The differences between restaurant cashiers and restaurant servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a restaurant cashier has an average salary of $25,120, which is higher than the $24,558 average annual salary of a restaurant server.
The top three skills for a restaurant cashier include cleanliness, customer service and cash registers. The most important skills for a restaurant server are wine, exceptional dining, and guest satisfaction.
| Restaurant Cashier | Restaurant Server | |
| Yearly salary | $25,120 | $24,558 |
| Hourly rate | $12.08 | $11.81 |
| Growth rate | -10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 131,740 | 141,250 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 34 | 28 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A restaurant cashier is primarily in charge of processing payments at restaurants. They operate cash registers, process credit and debit card payments, accept cash payments, and resolve customer issues and concerns should there be any. There are also instances where they assist customers by answering inquiries and offering promotions, help staff with their tasks, and report to managers. Moreover, restaurant cashiers must be alert for any pricing inconsistencies and be knowledgeable of menus and procedures for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Also called food servers, restaurant servers perform food preparation, cleaning duties, and customer service in casual dining eateries and restaurants. The food servers stock supplies, handle credit cards and the cash register, and clean restaurant counters and tables. They provide assistance to restaurant patrons to take orders, deliver food, and answer customer questions. The skills they need include trustworthiness, organization, customer relations, and communication skills.
Restaurant cashiers and restaurant servers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Restaurant Cashier | Restaurant Server | |
| Average salary | $25,120 | $24,558 |
| Salary range | Between $18,000 And $33,000 | Between $15,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | Erickson Senior Living | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Agriculture |
There are a few differences between a restaurant cashier and a restaurant server in terms of educational background:
| Restaurant Cashier | Restaurant Server | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between restaurant cashiers' and restaurant servers' demographics:
| Restaurant Cashier | Restaurant Server | |
| Average age | 34 | 28 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 27.5% Female, 72.5% | Male, 40.8% Female, 59.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 23.2% Asian, 9.5% White, 51.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 9.4% White, 52.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 6% |