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The differences between server/baristas and food servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a server/barista has an average salary of $30,749, which is higher than the $25,209 average annual salary of a food server.
The top three skills for a server/barista include cleanliness, wine and customer service. The most important skills for a food server are beverage orders, wine, and cleanliness.
| Server/Barista | Food Server | |
| Yearly salary | $30,749 | $25,209 |
| Hourly rate | $14.78 | $12.12 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 173,073 | 125,455 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Average age | 23 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A server/barista is someone who makes and serves beverages and foods, such as coffee, tea, and sandwiches or baked goods. He/She or she should be able to explain menu items to customers to ensure customer satisfaction. Other responsibilities include knowing food and beverage quality controls and updating displays to attract customers. The core skills that a server/barista should possess include excellent listening and communication skills and the ability to cope up with a physically demanding work environment. A candidate with a high school diploma or equivalent could qualify for the position.
A Food Server specializes in helping customers attain a pleasant dining experience while ensuring to meet all food handling and health regulation standards. Most of the responsibilities revolve around greeting customers and directing them to comfortable seats, responding to their inquires and taking their orders, and courteously suggesting options. Aside from serving meals, Food Servers must also accept payments, organize order receipts, replenish stocks in food containers and drinking stations, and clean tables for the new customers.
Server/baristas and food servers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Server/Barista | Food Server | |
| Average salary | $30,749 | $25,209 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $40,000 | Between $18,000 And $34,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Vermont |
| Best paying company | - | Gettysburg College |
| Best paying industry | - | Retail |
There are a few differences between a server/barista and a food server in terms of educational background:
| Server/Barista | Food Server | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between server/baristas' and food servers' demographics:
| Server/Barista | Food Server | |
| Average age | 23 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.2% Female, 71.8% | Male, 36.0% Female, 64.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.5% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.4% Asian, 8.7% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 7% |