Restaurant cashier vs server and hostess

The differences between restaurant cashiers and server and hostesses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a server and hostess has an average salary of $28,020, which is higher than the $25,120 average annual salary of a restaurant cashier.

The top three skills for a restaurant cashier include cleanliness, customer service and cash registers. The most important skills for a server and hostess are POS, food preparation, and food orders.

Restaurant cashier vs server and hostess overview

	Restaurant Cashier	Server And Hostess
Yearly salary	$25,120	$28,020
Hourly rate	$12.08	$13.47
Growth rate	-10%	10%
Number of jobs	131,740	97,109
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 33%	High School Diploma, 39%
Average age	34	28
Years of experience	-	-

What does a restaurant cashier do?

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.

What does a server and hostess do?

A server and hostess is an employee who plays the dual role of both a hostess and a server. As implied by this, a server and hostess is in-charge of welcoming guests as they enter the restaurant, ensuring that the guests' tables are ready before leading them to their assigned tables, handing over the menu, and waiting for the guests to finalize their order. Once the guests are ready to order, the server and hostess takes on the server role by bringing the guests' order to the kitchen, waiting for the food to be ready, and bringing the food to the guests' table.

Restaurant cashier vs server and hostess salary

Restaurant cashiers and server and hostesses have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Restaurant Cashier	Server And Hostess
Average salary	$25,120	$28,020
Salary range	Between $18,000 And $33,000	Between $21,000 And $37,000
Highest paying City	Boston, MA	Binghamton, NY
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	New York
Best paying company	Erickson Senior Living	Blue Dolphin Energy
Best paying industry	Hospitality	Hospitality

Differences between restaurant cashier and server and hostess education

There are a few differences between a restaurant cashier and a server and hostess in terms of educational background:

	Restaurant Cashier	Server And Hostess
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 33%	High School Diploma, 39%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Restaurant cashier vs server and hostess demographics

Here are the differences between restaurant cashiers' and server and hostesses' demographics:

	Restaurant Cashier	Server And Hostess
Average age	34	28
Gender ratio	Male, 27.5% Female, 72.5%	Male, 18.3% Female, 81.7%
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, 11.4% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 20.8% Asian, 8.2% White, 53.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	5%	6%

Differences between restaurant cashier and server and hostess duties and responsibilities

Restaurant cashier example responsibilities.

Manage floor plans, conduct reservations over the phone as well as in person.
Drop fries, make coffees, and smoothies.
Work as a cashier in the dine-in area and the drive-thru area.
Book reservations for large parties, greet and sit guests upon arrival.
Execute transactions on the POS system in timely fashion to ensure guests satisfaction.
Collect students' lunch money and run the dishes through a dish machine.

Server and hostess example responsibilities.

Assist guests in booking reservations and manage guest history data using OpenTable reservation system.
Provide quality customer service, process customer transactions utilizing proprietary POS system, skillfully handle cash and credit card transactions.
Perform bartending duties during busy events or whenever require.
Coordinate with kitchen managerial staff using POS systems to ensure timely and accurate order preparation.
Provide guests with an excellent dining experience by asking questions about allergies or preferences and initiating conversation for customer confidence.
Manage expediter window paying close attention to garnishes and presentation.

Restaurant cashier vs server and hostess skills

Common restaurant cashier skills

Cleanliness, 45%
Customer Service, 38%
Cash Registers, 5%
POS, 3%
Cash Handling, 1%
Basic Math, 1%

Common server and hostess skills

POS, 11%
Food Preparation, 10%
Food Orders, 9%
Customer Orders, 7%
Customer Service, 6%
Drink Orders, 5%

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Restaurant Cashier
Restaurant Cashier vs Server And Hostess

Updated January 8, 2025

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