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Server assistant vs beverage server

The differences between server assistants and beverage servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a beverage server has an average salary of $25,886, 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 beverage server are drink orders, guest service, and beverage orders.

Server assistant vs beverage server overview

Server AssistantBeverage Server
Yearly salary$25,654$25,886
Hourly rate$12.33$12.45
Growth rate9%10%
Number of jobs194,24879,100
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Average age3928
Years of experience--

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 beverage server do?

A beverage server specializes in mixing and preparing drinks, serving them to customers courteously. Their responsibilities also include greeting the customers, taking orders, answering inquiries, offering recommendations when necessary, and checking the customers' identification to confirm their ages. They may also provide assistance to managers by monitoring beverage inventories, receiving and unloading deliveries, organizing supplies and equipment, and maintaining the cleanliness of work areas. Moreover, as a beverage server, it is essential to have a clear communication line with co-workers for smooth work operations.

Server assistant vs beverage server salary

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

Server AssistantBeverage Server
Average salary$25,654$25,886
Salary rangeBetween $19,000 And $33,000Between $20,000 And $33,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WA-
Highest paying stateMaine-
Best paying companyPioneer High School-
Best paying industryHospitality-

Differences between server assistant and beverage server education

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

Server AssistantBeverage Server
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Server assistant vs beverage server demographics

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

Server AssistantBeverage Server
Average age3928
Gender ratioMale, 59.2% Female, 40.8%Male, 13.6% Female, 86.4%
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, 11.5% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 8.3% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between server assistant and beverage 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.
  • Show more

Beverage server example responsibilities.

  • Open and close the register, provide credit card and cash reports, and batches on POS.
  • Learned more about different liquor, cocktails and wine, drink mixes and special drink of the month.
  • Work with large amounts of cash as well as credit cards, and knowledge of the POS system.
  • Present menus to guest, answer and give information about menu items such as wine selections to pair with meal.
  • Maintain cleanliness in assign section utilizing a silent service approach.
  • Supervise daily operations to ensure food safety, product preparation, cleanliness standards are maintain.
  • Show more

Server assistant vs beverage server skills

Common server assistant skills
  • Cleanliness, 16%
  • Reservations, 13%
  • Service Stations, 10%
  • Wine, 6%
  • Ruby, 5%
  • Exceptional Dining, 5%
Common beverage server skills
  • Drink Orders, 10%
  • Guest Service, 9%
  • Beverage Orders, 8%
  • Exceptional Guest, 6%
  • Guest Satisfaction, 5%
  • Professional Appearance, 5%

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