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The differences between waitstaffs and food runners can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a food runner has an average salary of $25,536, which is higher than the $25,104 average annual salary of a waitstaff.
The top three skills for a waitstaff include food service, beverage orders and culinary. The most important skills for a food runner are cleanliness, wine, and culinary.
| Waitstaff | Food Runner | |
| Yearly salary | $25,104 | $25,536 |
| Hourly rate | $12.07 | $12.28 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 130,467 | 240,853 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Average age | 28 | 23 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
The waitstaff takes responsibility for tasks like recommending dishes based on the tastes and preferences of guests, accepting payments, and taking orders. Waitstaff delivers food to tables, ensures outstanding guest experience, and accepts payments. They work with diligence to get outstanding service quality and work with the other staff. It is part of their job to show customers their seats and provide menu options. They attend to tables for food service and guarantee cleanliness standard compliance.
Food Runners are responsible for assisting waitstaff on serving customers at a restaurant or similar establishment. Among their duties include maintaining cleanliness in particular areas, setting tables, refilling drinks, assisting customers with everything that they need, and coordinating with the workforce in and out of the kitchen. Furthermore, Food Runners need to ensure that all deliveries are accurate according to what is ordered by a customer. It is essential to stay presentable and helpful at all times as the main priority is customer satisfaction.
Waitstaffs and food runners have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Waitstaff | Food Runner | |
| Average salary | $25,104 | $25,536 |
| Salary range | Between $19,000 And $32,000 | Between $18,000 And $34,000 |
| Highest paying City | Falmouth, MA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Vermont |
| Best paying company | Mayo Clinic | University of Massachusetts Boston |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a waitstaff and a food runner in terms of educational background:
| Waitstaff | Food Runner | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between waitstaffs' and food runners' demographics:
| Waitstaff | Food Runner | |
| Average age | 28 | 23 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 27.3% Female, 72.7% | Male, 59.0% Female, 41.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 8.4% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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 | 6% | 8% |