Server manager vs restaurant manager

The differences between server managers and restaurant managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a server manager and a restaurant manager. Additionally, a server manager has an average salary of $61,639, which is higher than the $52,202 average annual salary of a restaurant manager.

The top three skills for a server manager include customer service, payroll and POS. The most important skills for a restaurant manager are customer service, guest satisfaction, and food handling.

Server manager vs restaurant manager overview

	Server Manager	Restaurant Manager
Yearly salary	$61,639	$52,202
Hourly rate	$29.63	$25.10
Growth rate	10%	10%
Number of jobs	153,999	225,340
Job satisfaction	-	1
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Average age	39	39
Years of experience	4	4

What does a server manager do?

As the name entails, server managers are responsible for managing and overseeing the serving areas in restaurants. This role is associated with several tasks, including checking the appearance of servers, checking a server's knowledge of the restaurant's daily specials and menu items, and greeting the customers. Additional tasks may include assisting new serving crews and evaluating their self-reliance and capabilities, managing the schedule of servers, and organizing staff training. The skills needed for this position may include excellent customer service skills, leadership skills, and communication skills.

What does a restaurant manager do?

A restaurant manager is responsible for handling the overall restaurant operations. These include monitoring revenues and daily restaurant sales, checking inventories and supplies, negotiating with third-party vendors, and managing customers' inquiries and complaints. Other duties include creating promotional offers, developing and improving sales strategies, organizing staff duties, maintaining the highest sanitary standards for everyone's strict compliance, and controlling operational expenses. A restaurant manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills and exceptional knowledge of food industry management.

Server manager vs restaurant manager salary

Server managers and restaurant managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Server Manager	Restaurant Manager
Average salary	$61,639	$52,202
Salary range	Between $23,000 And $162,000	Between $39,000 And $69,000
Highest paying City	-	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	-	New Hampshire
Best paying company	-	Hillstone Restaurant Group
Best paying industry	-	Hospitality

Differences between server manager and restaurant manager education

There are a few differences between a server manager and a restaurant manager in terms of educational background:

	Server Manager	Restaurant Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	Cornell University

Server manager vs restaurant manager demographics

Here are the differences between server managers' and restaurant managers' demographics:

	Server Manager	Restaurant Manager
Average age	39	39
Gender ratio	Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7%	Male, 54.5% Female, 45.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 8.6% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 9.4% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	10%	10%

Differences between server manager and restaurant manager duties and responsibilities

Server manager example responsibilities.

Manage operations of a successful restaurant/hotel business including leadership of client and supplier relationships.
Manage technical support, business analysis, project management, application development and support, training, and facilitation.
Supervise all areas within the restaurant and train all FOH staff in policies and procedures.
Monitor food distribution and restaurant maintenance of FOH and BOH -Handling of financial duties and perform administrative activities
Provide server duties by seating, taking orders and serving guests food and beverage orders using a POS computer service.
General serving and bartending responsibilities.

Restaurant manager example responsibilities.

Manage staff by teaching them the correct procedures along with making sure they are working up to Marriott standards.
Manage associates while bartending and serving in a family-own restaurant.
Coordinate, communicate and delegate FOH responsibilities to staff to ensure excellent operations are consistently achieve.
Maintain corporate accounts on QuickBooks.
Master QuickBooks to track company expenses and revenue.
Supervise and train dining and in-room dining staff.

Server manager vs restaurant manager skills

Common server manager skills

Customer Service, 21%
Payroll, 7%
POS, 6%
Customer Complaints, 6%
Fine Dining, 4%
Food Orders, 3%

Common restaurant manager skills

Customer Service, 14%
Guest Satisfaction, 7%
Food Handling, 7%
Cleanliness, 6%
Restaurant Management, 5%
Guest Service, 5%

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Server Manager vs Restaurant Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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