Server assistant vs server and hostess

The differences between server assistants and server and hostesses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a server and hostess has an average salary of $28,020, 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 server and hostess are POS, food preparation, and food orders.

Server assistant vs server and hostess overview

	Server Assistant	Server And Hostess
Yearly salary	$25,654	$28,020
Hourly rate	$12.33	$13.47
Growth rate	9%	10%
Number of jobs	194,248	97,109
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 40%	High School Diploma, 39%
Average age	39	28
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 server and hostess do?

A server and hostess is an employee who plays the dual role of both a hostess and a server. As implied by this, a server and hostess is in-charge of welcoming guests as they enter the restaurant, ensuring that the guests' tables are ready before leading them to their assigned tables, handing over the menu, and waiting for the guests to finalize their order. Once the guests are ready to order, the server and hostess takes on the server role by bringing the guests' order to the kitchen, waiting for the food to be ready, and bringing the food to the guests' table.

Server assistant vs server and hostess salary

Server assistants and server and hostesses have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Server Assistant	Server And Hostess
Average salary	$25,654	$28,020
Salary range	Between $19,000 And $33,000	Between $21,000 And $37,000
Highest paying City	Seattle, WA	Binghamton, NY
Highest paying state	Maine	New York
Best paying company	Pioneer High School	Blue Dolphin Energy
Best paying industry	Hospitality	Hospitality

Differences between server assistant and server and hostess education

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

	Server Assistant	Server And Hostess
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 40%	High School Diploma, 39%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Server assistant vs server and hostess demographics

Here are the differences between server assistants' and server and hostesses' demographics:

	Server Assistant	Server And Hostess
Average age	39	28
Gender ratio	Male, 59.2% Female, 40.8%	Male, 18.3% Female, 81.7%
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, 11.4% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 20.8% Asian, 8.2% White, 53.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between server assistant and server and hostess 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.

Server and hostess example responsibilities.

Assist guests in booking reservations and manage guest history data using OpenTable reservation system.
Provide quality customer service, process customer transactions utilizing proprietary POS system, skillfully handle cash and credit card transactions.
Perform bartending duties during busy events or whenever require.
Coordinate with kitchen managerial staff using POS systems to ensure timely and accurate order preparation.
Provide guests with an excellent dining experience by asking questions about allergies or preferences and initiating conversation for customer confidence.
Manage expediter window paying close attention to garnishes and presentation.

Server assistant vs server and hostess skills

Common server assistant skills

Cleanliness, 16%
Reservations, 13%
Service Stations, 10%
Wine, 6%
Ruby, 5%
Exceptional Dining, 5%

Common server and hostess skills

POS, 11%
Food Preparation, 10%
Food Orders, 9%
Customer Orders, 7%
Customer Service, 6%
Drink Orders, 5%

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Server Assistant vs Server And Hostess

Updated January 8, 2025

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