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The differences between servers and cocktail servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a server has an average salary of $29,901, which is higher than the $26,178 average annual salary of a cocktail server.
The top three skills for a server include wine, customer service and guest satisfaction. The most important skills for a cocktail server are wine, cash handling, and beverage orders.
| Server | Cocktail Server | |
| Yearly salary | $29,901 | $26,178 |
| Hourly rate | $14.38 | $12.59 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 162,734 | 74,674 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Average age | 28 | 28 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A server is a restaurant employee assigned to the main dining area of the restaurant to primarily attend to the customer's needs. Servers assist guests to their tables, wait for the guests to be ready with their orders, and take the guests' orders. They should be knowledgeable about the restaurant's offerings since they should be able to answer any questions asked by the guests regarding the menu. They communicate the guests' orders to the kitchen crew and serve the orders once they are ready. Once the guests are finished eating, servers provide their bills upon their request and clean up the table when they leave. Servers should have excellent customer service skills and hospitality management 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.
Servers and cocktail servers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Server | Cocktail Server | |
| Average salary | $29,901 | $26,178 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $42,000 | Between $16,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Washington |
| Best paying company | Dell | Aspen Snowmass |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Media |
There are a few differences between a server and a cocktail server in terms of educational background:
| Server | 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 servers' and cocktail servers' demographics:
| Server | Cocktail Server | |
| Average age | 28 | 28 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.0% Female, 68.0% | Male, 13.0% Female, 87.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 8.2% White, 54.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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% |