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The differences between server assistants and cocktail servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a cocktail server has an average salary of $26,178, 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 cocktail server are wine, cash handling, and beverage orders.
| Server Assistant | Cocktail Server | |
| Yearly salary | $25,654 | $26,178 |
| Hourly rate | $12.33 | $12.59 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 194,248 | 74,674 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Average age | 39 | 28 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
A cocktail server's responsibilities revolve around taking orders and serving drinks in a restaurant or similar establishment, ensuring accuracy and customer satisfaction. Aside from this, a cocktail server may have to process payments, clean tables, and even offer suggestions when necessary. They also have to be alert for any signs of disruptive behavior from intoxicated to underage customers. Furthermore, it is essential to communicate and coordinate with the bartender and other kitchen staff to ensure that every patron gets their order, especially on days when there's a high customer presence.
Server assistants and cocktail servers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Server Assistant | Cocktail Server | |
| Average salary | $25,654 | $26,178 |
| Salary range | Between $19,000 And $33,000 | Between $16,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Maine | Washington |
| Best paying company | Pioneer High School | Aspen Snowmass |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Media |
There are a few differences between a server assistant and a cocktail server in terms of educational background:
| Server Assistant | Cocktail Server | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between server assistants' and cocktail servers' demographics:
| Server Assistant | Cocktail Server | |
| Average age | 39 | 28 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.2% Female, 40.8% | Male, 13.0% Female, 87.0% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 10.7% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 22.8% Asian, 8.1% White, 51.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |