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Runner vs waitress

The differences between runners and waitresses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a runner has an average salary of $33,320, which is higher than the $24,770 average annual salary of a waitress.

The top three skills for a runner include food service, basic math and math. The most important skills for a waitress are food orders, food preparation, and customer orders.

Runner vs waitress overview

RunnerWaitress
Yearly salary$33,320$24,770
Hourly rate$16.02$11.91
Growth rate17%10%
Number of jobs15,50187,315
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%High School Diploma, 36%
Average age4528
Years of experience--

What does a runner do?

A runner is considered as a general assistant who works under the direction of a producer and other production staff to do basic works such as answering the phone or making arrangements for staff on locations in the broadcasting and film industry. The role of a runner is to ensure that the production process is running smoothly. A runner should possess a lot of skills, such as excellent time management and teamwork. A bachelor or postgraduate degree is not required for being a runner.

What does a waitress do?

Waitresses are responsible for ensuring that guests are given proper attention during their visit to the restaurant. They guide guests to their table, provide menu boards, answer any questions the guests may have, take the guests' order, and communicate the order to the kitchen. Once the order is ready, waitresses collect the food from the kitchen and serve it to the guests. They then give guests time to finish their meal. Upon the guests' request, waitresses bring them their bill and wait for them to finish paying up. Once the guests leave, waitresses are responsible for ensuring that the table is ready for the next guests.

Runner vs waitress salary

Runners and waitresses have different pay scales, as shown below.

RunnerWaitress
Average salary$33,320$24,770
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $41,000Between $17,000 And $35,000
Highest paying CityUrban Honolulu, HIWashington, DC
Highest paying stateHawaiiNew York
Best paying companyVirginia Eye InstituteNew York Institute of Technology
Best paying industryTransportationHospitality

Differences between runner and waitress education

There are a few differences between a runner and a waitress in terms of educational background:

RunnerWaitress
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%High School Diploma, 36%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Runner vs waitress demographics

Here are the differences between runners' and waitresses' demographics:

RunnerWaitress
Average age4528
Gender ratioMale, 63.7% Female, 36.3%Male, 19.9% Female, 80.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 13.3% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2%Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 8.6% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage7%6%

Differences between runner and waitress duties and responsibilities

Runner example responsibilities.

  • Manage tickets for kitchen, run food and intereact with customers, and bus tables
  • Manage expediter window paying close attention to garnishes and presentation.
  • Operate within compliance of USDA and QA program standards
  • Clean tables & floor area also set silver ware, plates, & wine glasses in correct fine dining table positions.
  • Line runner, PVC pipe bundler
  • Assist the HVAC technician with installations.
  • Show more

Waitress example responsibilities.

  • Manage a recurring book of business of top VIP clients secure through networking.
  • Relay orders to bar and kitchen by quickly and accurately recording guest selections and keying them into the POS computer system.
  • wait tables, handle money, exceed guest expectations, serve food and drinks, micros, clean, side work.
  • Increase store sales by upselling merchandise.
  • Enter order/payment information into micros system, deliver receipt and change to the customer.
  • Bring wine selections to tables with appropriate glasses, and pour the wines for customers.
  • Show more

Runner vs waitress skills

Common runner skills
  • Food Service, 18%
  • Basic Math, 10%
  • Math, 9%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Cleanliness, 6%
  • Cash Handling, 6%
Common waitress skills
  • Food Orders, 13%
  • Food Preparation, 9%
  • Customer Orders, 8%
  • POS, 7%
  • Drink Orders, 5%
  • Customer Service, 5%

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