Set-up crew vs food runner/busser

The differences between set-up crews and food runner/bussers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a set-up crew has an average salary of $31,875, which is higher than the $28,577 average annual salary of a food runner/busser.

The top three skills for a set-up crew include meeting rooms, customer service and wedding receptions. The most important skills for a food runner/busser are cleanliness, wine, and excellent guest.

Set-up crew vs food runner/busser overview

	Set-Up Crew	Food Runner/Busser
Yearly salary	$31,875	$28,577
Hourly rate	$15.32	$13.74
Growth rate	14%	14%
Number of jobs	65,215	124,680
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 37%	High School Diploma, 42%
Average age	23	23
Years of experience	-	-

Set-up crew vs food runner/busser salary

Set-up crews and food runner/bussers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Set-Up Crew	Food Runner/Busser
Average salary	$31,875	$28,577
Salary range	Between $24,000 And $42,000	Between $22,000 And $36,000
Highest paying City	-	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	-	New Hampshire
Best paying company	-	The Culinary Institute of America
Best paying industry	-	Hospitality

Differences between set-up crew and food runner/busser education

There are a few differences between a set-up crew and a food runner/busser in terms of educational background:

	Set-Up Crew	Food Runner/Busser
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 37%	High School Diploma, 42%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Set-up crew vs food runner/busser demographics

Here are the differences between set-up crews' and food runner/bussers' demographics:

	Set-Up Crew	Food Runner/Busser
Average age	23	23
Gender ratio	Male, 75.3% Female, 24.7%	Male, 75.4% Female, 24.6%
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, 9.6% Unknown, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.5% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between set-up crew and food runner/busser duties and responsibilities

Set-up crew example responsibilities.

Train staff to ensure that all work are conducted under GMP conditions.
Delegate and supervise assignments to new associates using effective communication and leadership skills.
Repair broken props; mend costumes; and execute quick scene changes.
Train new crew members of McDonalds and show them the correct way to do their assign position.

Food runner/busser example responsibilities.

Manage event reservations and party requests, inform customers about upcoming events and specials.
Educate and experience in fine dining experience, professional etiquette and wine knowledge
Operate a POS system, highly experience with cash handling methods.
Give assistance to clients at POS to ensure a pleasant shopping experience.
Note allergies and special accommodations on receipts to ensure customer safety and satisfaction.
Collaborate closely alongside coworkers to ensure customer satisfaction and overall cleanliness of the establishment.

Set-up crew vs food runner/busser skills

Common set-up crew skills

Meeting Rooms, 25%
Customer Service, 22%
Wedding Receptions, 11%
RAN, 8%
Event Set-Up, 7%
Dance Floors, 5%

Common food runner/busser skills

Cleanliness, 14%
Wine, 13%
Excellent Guest, 8%
Culinary, 6%
Water Glasses, 6%
Food Delivery, 5%

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Food Preparation and Restaurant Industry
Set-Up Crew
Set-Up Crew vs Food Runner/Busser

Updated January 8, 2025

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