Server vs room service server

The differences between servers and room service 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 $26,717 average annual salary of a room service server.

The top three skills for a server include wine, customer service and guest satisfaction. The most important skills for a room service server are guest rooms, beverage orders, and in-room.

Server vs room service server overview

	Server	Room Service Server
Yearly salary	$29,901	$26,717
Hourly rate	$14.38	$12.84
Growth rate	10%	9%
Number of jobs	162,734	144,551
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 40%	High School Diploma, 34%
Average age	28	39
Years of experience	-	-

What does a server do?

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.

What does a room service server do?

A room service server is an employee employed in a hotel or lodging to provide various services to the room occupants in the hotel. They often deliver ordered food, drinks, or movies to the occupants' rooms. Their duties and responsibilities include delivery of ordered foods or drinks, taking orders, collecting dirty dishes from rooms, and maintaining supplies and orders.

Server vs room service server salary

Servers and room service servers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Server	Room Service Server
Average salary	$29,901	$26,717
Salary range	Between $21,000 And $42,000	Between $18,000 And $39,000
Highest paying City	Washington, DC	Portland, ME
Highest paying state	New York	Maine
Best paying company	Dell	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Best paying industry	Hospitality	Hospitality

Differences between server and room service server education

There are a few differences between a server and a room service server in terms of educational background:

	Server	Room Service Server
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 40%	High School Diploma, 34%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Server vs room service server demographics

Here are the differences between servers' and room service servers' demographics:

	Server	Room Service Server
Average age	28	39
Gender ratio	Male, 32.0% Female, 68.0%	Male, 51.8% Female, 48.2%
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, 10.3% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 7.4% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between server and room service server duties and responsibilities

Server example responsibilities.

Manage expediter window paying close attention to garnishes and presentation.
Provide exceptional customer service, while frequently checking for food allergies, by utilizing excellent communication and multitasking skills.
Maximize profits by upselling food and alcoholic beverages and utilizing excellent customer service skills to ensure guests repeat business.
Clean bars, work areas, and tables.
Provide exceptional service to guests with charm, professionalism, respect, and bright personality.
Embrace serving on a more personal level due the quaint, small-town charm of the location.

Room service server example responsibilities.

Clean and defrost mini bars regularly.
Train, maintain and enforce all Marriott service standards using use records, menus and appropriate reference materials.
Perform various financial activities such as cash and credit card processing, daily revenue reports, bank deposits, and payroll.
Assist in weekly payroll and scheduling responsibilities.
Establish a positive relationship with co-workers and managers through a solid work ethic, positive attitude, punctuality and dependability.
Build relationships with guests -help prepare for restaurant opening -Maintain restaurant at all times -Persuasive- positive use of upselling techniques

Server vs room service server skills

Common server skills

Wine, 15%
Customer Service, 10%
Guest Satisfaction, 8%
Cleanliness, 7%
Cash Handling, 7%
POS, 6%

Common room service server skills

Guest Rooms, 8%
Beverage Orders, 8%
In-Room, 6%
Cash Handling, 6%
Guest Service, 6%
Cleanliness, 6%

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Server vs Room Service Server

Updated January 8, 2025

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