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Server assistant vs bartender server

The differences between server assistants and bartender servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a bartender server has an average salary of $32,591, which is higher than the $25,654 average annual salary of a server assistant.

The top three skills for a server assistant include cleanliness, reservations and service stations. The most important skills for a bartender server are bartending, POS, and non-alcoholic beverages.

Server assistant vs bartender server overview

Server AssistantBartender Server
Yearly salary$25,654$32,591
Hourly rate$12.33$15.67
Growth rate9%18%
Number of jobs194,248106,784
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age3934
Years of experience-2

What does a server assistant do?

A server assistant, also known as a busser, is a restaurant employee who assists food servers in providing prompt and polite service to their guests. Server assistants are responsible for the preparation of tables for their arriving guests at the same time to help deliver food to tables when the food servers are busy. Aside from entertaining guests, server assistants must ensure that beverages are refilled, menus are sanitized, and process payments. Server assistants must also possess excellent communication and customer service skills.

What does a bartender server do?

Bartender servers are employees who work in the restaurant's bar area. They are responsible for assembling customers' drink orders and serving these to customers. They should be sound drink mixers and must be familiar with cocktail combinations and other mixes. They should also know the ingredients of the restaurant's drinks and should be able to use alternatives should specific components be unavailable. Some bartender servers engage in flairtending, a way of mixing drinks that entertains the guests waiting for their drinks.

Server assistant vs bartender server salary

Server assistants and bartender servers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Server AssistantBartender Server
Average salary$25,654$32,591
Salary rangeBetween $19,000 And $33,000Between $23,000 And $46,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WAEdmonds, WA
Highest paying stateMaineHawaii
Best paying companyPioneer High SchoolEarth Fare
Best paying industryHospitalityHospitality

Differences between server assistant and bartender server education

There are a few differences between a server assistant and a bartender server in terms of educational background:

Server AssistantBartender Server
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Server assistant vs bartender server demographics

Here are the differences between server assistants' and bartender servers' demographics:

Server AssistantBartender Server
Average age3934
Gender ratioMale, 59.2% Female, 40.8%Male, 33.8% Female, 66.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 7.7% White, 59.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 3.8% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage6%8%

Differences between server assistant and bartender server duties and responsibilities

Server assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage event reservations and party requests, inform customers about upcoming events and specials.
  • Set up chairs, tables, and workstations.
  • Stock the bar and service areas for bartenders and beverage servers.
  • Deliver food orders to guests accordingly to five stars five diamonds standards.
  • Direct other beverage servers and bartenders when to take breaks and for how long.
  • Assist servers with taking orders, ringing in orders on the POS and running food.
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Bartender server example responsibilities.

  • Use micros, handle money, give change, manage bar cost, keep good customer relations to gain repeat business.
  • Direct bartending operations, seamless beverage services, inventory management and customer service.
  • Provide efficient hands-on food and beverage delivery while successfully upselling food and beverage orders.
  • Optimize bar revenue by upselling drinks and facilitating repeat business by cultivating relationships to encourage repeat patronage.
  • Fast pace serving customers, bartender on occasion, put orders in micros and get people their checks in a timely matter
  • Experience utilizing POS system quickly and accurately.
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Server assistant vs bartender server skills

Common server assistant skills
  • Cleanliness, 16%
  • Reservations, 13%
  • Service Stations, 10%
  • Wine, 6%
  • Ruby, 5%
  • Exceptional Dining, 5%
Common bartender server skills
  • Bartending, 15%
  • POS, 10%
  • Non-Alcoholic Beverages, 9%
  • Fine Dining, 7%
  • Drink Orders, 5%
  • Customer Service, 5%

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