Why We Love It
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$24,110Potential Avg. Salary
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10.3%Job Growth Rate
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Growing DemandJob Outlook
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Don't Take Work HomeCareer Attribute
Bartenders prepare and serve both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Bartenders may be responsible for preparing a list of traditional drinks as ordered by customers, or they may serve as mixologists—individuals trained in inventing new drinks based on customer preferences and personal recipes.
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What is a Bartender?
The following job responsibilities are common for individuals in bartending roles:
- Collect drink orders and prepare alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
- Serve as mixologists, developing new drink recipes based on customer preferences or personal recipes
- Stock bars: ensure all liquors, mixers, beers, wines, and garnishes needed for a shift are available
- Converse with and entertain clientele to make customers feel welcomed and delighted
- Clean up after shifts: wipe down bars, secure liquors, and wash glassware
A Day in the Life
A bartender’s shift usually begins with preparing a bar and facility for customers. They’re responsible for setting up their areas: ensuring needed liquors and bottles of beer and wine are stocked, cocktail garnishes are cut and available, mixers are restocked and nearby, and pour mats, glassware, and shakers are clean and available. They’re also responsible for setting up their registers and ensuring that opening banks are counted correctly.
During their shifts, bartenders take orders from customers and servers and prepare ordered drinks. In busy venues, bartending is an active and fast-paced job that requires quick movements, good memorization skills, and people skills that allow making a good impression with just a brief interaction. Bartenders accept payments for drink orders and are responsible for accepting payments, making change, and keeping open tabs for ordered drinks when customers pay with credit or debit cards.
After a shift, bartenders must reconcile their registers with the sales made that evening. In venues that require bartenders to share tips, they may also be responsible for counting and splitting tips earned for the evening, and they may have to tip out bar backs and other help staff for a percentage of tips earned that evening. Bartenders also often have cleaning responsibilities after shifts and need to wipe down bars, clean dishware and bar mats, and secure alcohol so that it’s locked up while the venue is closed.
Typical Work Schedule
Bartenders may be required to work day, afternoon, and evening shifts, depending on the type of venue they’re employed by. Shifts may or may not be consistent—bartenders may be required to close the bar one evening and then turn around and open it back up the next afternoon.
Projected Job Growth
Like all food service industry jobs, bartending positions experience high turnover, so there is almost always an open position available for bartenders. Additionally, it’s expected that the position will see higher than average growth in the coming decade.
Typical Employers
Bartenders are hired to work in a variety of venues. Some work in bars and nightclubs, some work in restaurants, and some work in casinos. Additionally, bartenders may work for catering companies where they travel to different venues to serve drinks at events.
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How To Become a Bartender
While no formal education is required to become a bartender, many individuals get their foot in to door at popular establishments by studying bartending at vocational or technical schools. These schools teach individuals how to prepare drinks using a set of standard recipes and cocktails, and students also learn about alcohol sales laws and proper food service storage and preparation techniques. This education can take the place of on-the-job training and allow individuals to secure bartender jobs more quickly.
The alternative is to accept an entry-level position at a bar or restaurant and work your way up to being trained as a bartender. Some bartenders start as hosting, janitorial, or security staff and work their way through positions to qualify to be trained as bartenders. Individuals with success in entry-level positions may move on to become servers or bar backs and ultimately qualify for bartender training from an experienced staff bartender or bar manager.
Additionally, each state has its own laws regarding age requirements for bartenders. Some states require individuals to be 18, some require you to be 20, and some require you to be 21. It’s important to understand state laws for serving drinks to make sure you qualify to work as a bartender.
Bartender Salary Data
We’ve provided you the following to learn more about this career. The salary and growth data on this page comes from recently published Bureau of Labor Statistics data while the recommendations and editorial content are based on our research.
National Anual Salary
Low Range
$18,190Average
$24,110High Range
$37,980National Hourly Wage
Low Range
$9/hrAverage
$12/hrHigh Range
$18/hrHow do Bartender salaries stack up to other jobs across the country? Based on the latest jobs data nationwide, Bartender's can make an average annual salary of $24,110, or $12 per hour. This makes it an Above Average Salary. On the lower end, they can make $18,190 or $9 per hour, perhaps when just starting out or based on the state you live in.
Salary Rankings And Facts
#780 Nationally for All Careers
Highest Education Among Bartenders
- 0.4% Doctorate
- 1.9% Masters
- 16.9% Bachelors
- 10% Associates
- 35.6% College
- 27.8% High School
- 7.5% Less than High School
Job Growth Projections and Forecast
2014 Total Jobs
580,9002024 Est. Jobs
640,900Job Growth Rate
10.3%Est. New Jobs
60,000How does Bartender job growth stack up to other jobs across the country? By 2024, there will be a change of 60,000 jobs for a total of 640,900 people employed in the career nationwide. This is a 10.3% change in growth over the next ten years, giving the career a growth rate nationwide of Below Average.
Growth Rankings And Facts
#183 Nationally for All Careers
What Companies Employ The Most Bartenders
| Industry | Current Jobs | New Jobs Needed | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service restaurants | 253,200 | 39,100 | 39% |
| Drinking places (alcoholic beverages) | 165,800 | 11,700 | 12% |
| Civic and social organizations | 44,900 | 2,400 | 2% |
