Post job

Server/barista vs lead server

The differences between server/baristas and lead 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 $28,677 average annual salary of a lead server.

The top three skills for a server/barista include cleanliness, wine and customer service. The most important skills for a lead server are customer service, new servers, and fine dining.

Server/barista vs lead server overview

Server/BaristaLead Server
Yearly salary$30,749$28,677
Hourly rate$14.78$13.79
Growth rate14%10%
Number of jobs173,073123,215
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age2328
Years of experience--

What does a server/barista do?

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.

What does a lead server do?

A lead server is responsible for assisting the guests' needs, responding to their inquiries, and immediately addressing their dining concerns. Lead servers ensure the timely and accurate serving of orders, offering promotional menus and other additional services. Lead servers must have excellent communication skills to interact with the guests, as well as time-management and multitasking skills to perform duties in the fast-paced environment. They also help in developing strategic procedures and food menu recommendations by researching on the latest food trends in the industry to generate revenues and attract more customers.

Server/barista vs lead server salary

Server/baristas and lead servers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Server/BaristaLead Server
Average salary$30,749$28,677
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $40,000Between $11,000 And $70,000
Highest paying City-New York, NY
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-Microsoft
Best paying industry-Hospitality

Differences between server/barista and lead server education

There are a few differences between a server/barista and a lead server in terms of educational background:

Server/BaristaLead Server
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common majorPsychologyBusiness
Most common college--

Server/barista vs lead server demographics

Here are the differences between server/baristas' and lead servers' demographics:

Server/BaristaLead Server
Average age2328
Gender ratioMale, 28.2% Female, 71.8%Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5%
Race ratioBlack 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, 11.3% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 8.7% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%6%

Differences between server/barista and lead server duties and responsibilities

Server/barista example responsibilities.

  • Open and close the cafe, work a POS system, manage inventory, stock the cafe.
  • Practice organization and cleanliness while managing individual tasks.
  • Greet and seat customer, take orders through POS system, and deliver food and drinks to customers.
  • Cash handling experience, maintain cleanliness of restaurant, ensure customer satisfaction through superior customer interaction.
  • Maintain regular and consistent attendance and punctuality as well as trained new team members with positive reinforcement and respectfully encouraging coaching
  • Maintain an organize and time sensitive backroom with various perishables.
  • Show more

Lead server example responsibilities.

  • Establish payroll policies and manage multiple areas of restaurant operations.
  • Manage technical support, business analysis, project management, application development and support, training, and facilitation.
  • Provide leadership to crew and shift managers guaranteeing great quality, customer service and cleanliness according to the public health code.
  • Train new employees on police, procedures, and micros system.
  • Take orders from customers, input orders into micros, and obtain payment and provide change.
  • Execute bartending duties and prepare service bar drinks (wine tasting flights, glass pours, cocktails, etc . )
  • Show more

Server/barista vs lead server skills

Common server/barista skills
  • Cleanliness, 24%
  • Wine, 17%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Multitasking, 10%
  • Presentation Standards, 9%
  • POS, 4%
Common lead server skills
  • Customer Service, 22%
  • New Servers, 11%
  • Fine Dining, 9%
  • POS, 7%
  • Food Service, 6%
  • Guest Satisfaction, 4%

Browse food preparation and restaurant jobs