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The differences between waitstaffs and lead servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a lead server has an average salary of $28,677, 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 lead server are customer service, new servers, and fine dining.
| Waitstaff | Lead Server | |
| Yearly salary | $25,104 | $28,677 |
| Hourly rate | $12.07 | $13.79 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 130,467 | 123,215 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 28 | 28 |
| 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.
A lead server is responsible for assisting the guests' needs, responding to their inquiries, and immediately addressing their dining concerns. Lead servers ensure the timely and accurate serving of orders, offering promotional menus and other additional services. Lead servers must have excellent communication skills to interact with the guests, as well as time-management and multitasking skills to perform duties in the fast-paced environment. They also help in developing strategic procedures and food menu recommendations by researching on the latest food trends in the industry to generate revenues and attract more customers.
Waitstaffs and lead servers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Waitstaff | Lead Server | |
| Average salary | $25,104 | $28,677 |
| Salary range | Between $19,000 And $32,000 | Between $11,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | Falmouth, MA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Mayo Clinic | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a waitstaff and a lead server in terms of educational background:
| Waitstaff | Lead Server | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between waitstaffs' and lead servers' demographics:
| Waitstaff | Lead Server | |
| Average age | 28 | 28 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 27.3% Female, 72.7% | Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5% |
| 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, 11.3% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 8.7% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |