Types of Restaurant Jobs (With Salaries and Duties)

Updated 24 February 2023

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Restaurant workers create a memorable gastronomic experience for customers and offer top-notch services to customers and patrons. While some positions in a restaurant are common to all establishments, others are specific to the goals and objectives of a particular restaurant. A restaurant job is ideal for those starting out or looking for a part-time job. In this article, we discuss various types of restaurant jobs with their main functions, find out their salaries and explore the skills required for success in this industry.

Types Of Restaurant Jobs

Here are some types of restaurant jobs that you can find:

1. Server

National average salary: ₹17,224 per month

Primary duties: A server receives orders from customers and provides service to improve their dining experience. They report the customer's order to kitchen staff. A server helps customers choose among various menu options and serves their preferred meals and drinks. They also carry the invoice for a customer's order to collect the payment from them. A server ensures that the food and beverage (F&B) services provided comply with the standards and sanitation policies of the restaurant.

2. Food and beverage manager

National average salary: ₹21,805 per month

Primary duties: A food and beverage manager handles restaurant operations such as planning, adhering to quality standards and managing F&B supplies. They work to create a strong customer experience by responding to service inquiries. They plan additional recipes for customers with special food requirements and build strong relationships with suppliers while ensuring food quality and safety standards.

3. Cashier

National Average Salary: ₹14,213 per month

Primary Duties: A cashier's role is to review a customer's restaurant bill, accept and process their payment. A cashier monitors and manages all aspects of payments. They record all costs and sign them in compliance with the company policies. In addition, they help with packing to-go items, separate tips for restaurant workers and take reservations or orders.

4. Kitchen steward

National average salary: ₹15,085 per month

Primary duties: A kitchen steward maintains a high degree of cleanliness and sanitation in the restaurant's kitchen and premises. The role involves emptying trash bins, operating and managing kitchen machines, sorting and organising all kitchen equipment and supplies. They make sure that food preparation is under hygienic conditions to meet safety standards and policies. A key part of this work is unloading and storing inventory.

5. Barista

National average salary: ₹13,784 per month

Primary duties: A barista prepares and serves beverages such as coffee and tea for customers. They are also responsible for the maintenance of all kitchen equipment, sanitation of work and seating area to maintain hygienic standards. It is important for baristas to understand menu offerings, learn new techniques to prepare coffee and other beverages and monitor the ingredient inventory to reorder supplies when required.

6. Line cook

National average salary: ₹20,482 per month

Primary duties: A line cook, also known as a chef de partie or station chef, is in charge of station management in a restaurant's kitchen. They prepare, cook and present top-quality dishes for customers in their field of expertise. A line cook usually specialises in a specific section of the kitchen. They ensure that the food prepared and delivered from their workstation meets quality standards. There could be more than one station chef or line cook in a restaurant's kitchen.

7. Sous chef

National average salary: ₹28,627 per month

Primary duties: A sous chef, also known as under chef, second chef or sous-chef de cuisine, is a chef who is the second-in-command in a kitchen. Their primary role is to manage the daily activities of the kitchen and assign specific tasks to all employees working under their supervision. A sous chef is also responsible for overseeing the details of each dish and the food lines to ensure that everything meets food safety standards. They run and maintain the kitchen in the absence of the executive chef.

8. Executive chef

National average salary: ₹36,849 per month

Primary duties: An executive chef, also known as the head chef or chef de cuisine, leads and manages the kitchen and chefs working in a restaurant. The main task of an executive chef is ensuring that the kitchen operates smoothly. There is only one executive chef for every kitchen, which makes it a competitive position. They manage and supervise daily cooking operations, costs, food preparation and meal planning. They also create new recipes on the menu, order and buy inventory and materials while maintaining nutrition standards and safety measures of the food.

9. Front office manager

National average salary: ₹16,587 per month

Primary duties: A front office manager keeps the front desk clean and ensures all necessary supplies are present on the desk. Good interpersonal skills help front office managers do their job responsibly as it requires them to communicate, greet and welcome all guests coming to the restaurant. They address customer queries and also manage reservations. They also monitor office supplies, place supply orders whenever necessary, update files and records, log and monitor office costs.

10. Catering manager

National average salary: ₹27,739 per month

Primary duties: Catering managers lead teams of chefs and catering assistants in a restaurant. A catering manager oversees catering services for the restaurant. These services include creating catering menus and selling catering packages to clients. A catering manager assigns and monitors staff members to deliver meals and serve customers at the catering location. They keep the food quality in check, especially during events and outdoor operations. They work with a client's budget and coordinate with a marketing professional to advertise and promote the restaurant's catering services.

11. Restaurant manager

National average salary: ₹21,686 per month

Primary duties: A restaurant manager manages and organises the daily operations in a restaurant. They work to control costs and ensure a high-quality dining experience for customers. They also oversee hiring, training and supervising restaurant employees and budget management. Restaurant managers plan menus for the restaurant and ensure that food is per safety regulations. They communicate with customers, suppliers, employees, sales representatives and licensing authorities to ensure on-time delivery and operations.

12. Sommelier

National average salary: ₹5,78,337 per year

Primary duties: A sommelier creates a restaurant's wine list and suggests wine options for customers. They also work in cooperation with the head chef to make wine pairings for different menu items. A sommelier maintains a restaurant's wine inventory by ordering wine as per requirement. They also train other employees to suggest a wine to customers. A sommelier also checks if the restaurant's wine stock is complete and negotiates prices with vendors. They organise wine-tasting events and ensure that the restaurant meets all health and safety regulations.

13. Baker

National average salary: ₹17,850 per month

Primary duties: A baker makes pastries, bread, cakes, rolls and other desserts in a restaurant. They may also work with the executive chef to create special desserts that complement other dishes on the menu. A baker maintains adequate supplies of all prepared products and stores the desserts to keep them ready and refrigerated for the people. A baker's job is to ensure minimum wastage of products by ordering and using ingredients in necessary quantities. They clean and maintain all baking equipment, such as ovens, mixers, proofers, freezers and refrigerators.

14. Bakery assistant

National average salary: ₹14,255 per month

Primary duties: A bakery assistant provides support to bakers, cooks and pastry chefs in a restaurant. They also clean the dessert preparation area and help with food storage. A bakery assistant manages the restaurant's bakery, meets daily orders, curates special menu items and undertakes the prep work needed for preparing desserts during dinner service.

15. Bartender

National average salary: ₹13,945 per month

Primary duties: A bartender assists with the bar and customer service at the beverage counter of a restaurant. They perform the opening and closing procedures for the bar as assigned to them and monitor operating supplies. A bartender ensures minimum wastage of beverages and products while also managing the payments at the bar. They also create special drinks and beverages keeping in mind the theme of ongoing events and festivals at the restaurant.

Salary figures reflect data listed on Indeed Salaries at time of writing. Salaries may vary depending on the hiring organisation and a candidate's experience, academic background and location.