Room service server vs food runner

The differences between room service servers and food runners 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 $25,536 average annual salary of a food runner.

The top three skills for a room service server include guest rooms, beverage orders and in-room. The most important skills for a food runner are cleanliness, wine, and culinary.

Room service server vs food runner overview

	Room Service Server	Food Runner
Yearly salary	$26,717	$25,536
Hourly rate	$12.84	$12.28
Growth rate	9%	14%
Number of jobs	144,551	240,853
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 34%	High School Diploma, 38%
Average age	39	23
Years of 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.

What does a food runner do?

Food Runners are responsible for assisting waitstaff on serving customers at a restaurant or similar establishment. Among their duties include maintaining cleanliness in particular areas, setting tables, refilling drinks, assisting customers with everything that they need, and coordinating with the workforce in and out of the kitchen. Furthermore, Food Runners need to ensure that all deliveries are accurate according to what is ordered by a customer. It is essential to stay presentable and helpful at all times as the main priority is customer satisfaction.

Room service server vs food runner salary

Room service servers and food runners have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Room Service Server	Food Runner
Average salary	$26,717	$25,536
Salary range	Between $18,000 And $39,000	Between $18,000 And $34,000
Highest paying City	Portland, ME	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	Maine	Vermont
Best paying company	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center	University of Massachusetts Boston
Best paying industry	Hospitality	Hospitality

Differences between room service server and food runner education

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

	Room Service Server	Food Runner
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 34%	High School Diploma, 38%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Room service server vs food runner demographics

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

	Room Service Server	Food Runner
Average age	39	23
Gender ratio	Male, 51.8% Female, 48.2%	Male, 59.0% Female, 41.0%
Race ratio	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%	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.5% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	6%	8%

Differences between room service server and food runner duties and responsibilities

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

Food runner example responsibilities.

Manage labor and design of numerous weddings, banquets, buffets, and the restaurant floor.
Manage event reservations and party requests, inform customers about upcoming events and specials.
Provide excellent customer service to guests by describing and suggesting culinary options
Greet customers and prepare drinks (tea, smoothies).
Expedite the kitchen to ensure food leaves fast and accurately.
Demonstrate strong computational skills for tendering receipt of payments from clients.

Room service server vs food runner skills

Common room service server skills

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

Common food runner skills

Cleanliness, 20%
Wine, 9%
Culinary, 7%
Food Orders, 6%
Fine Dining, 5%
Food Handling, 5%

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Room Service Server vs Food Runner

Updated January 8, 2025

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