What is a Bartender?
Occupation Description Mix and serve drinks to patrons, directly or through waitstaff.
What Do Bartenders Do On a Daily Basis?
- Serve snacks or food items to customers seated at the bar.
- Plan bar menus.
- Arrange bottles and glasses to make attractive displays.
- Ask customers who become loud and obnoxious to leave, or physically remove them.
- Plan, organize, and control the operations of a cocktail lounge or bar.
- Supervise the work of bar staff and other bartenders.
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Things a Bartender Should Know How to Do
Below is a list of the skills most Bartenders say are important on the job.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Related Job Titles
- Barkeeper
- Bar Supervisor
- Mixologist
- Banquet Bartender
- Bar Captain
Job Opportunities for Bartenders
There were about 611,200 jobs for Bartender in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 2.5% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 15,100 new jobs for Bartender by 2026. There will be an estimated 102,300 positions for Bartender per year.
The states with the most job growth for Bartender are Colorado, Utah, and Washington. Watch out if you plan on working in Ohio, West Virginia, or Minnesota. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Bartender Make?
The typical yearly salary for Bartenders is somewhere between $17,610 and $42,230.
Bartenders who work in Hawaii, District of Columbia, or Vermont, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Bartenders in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $21,840 |
Alaska | $28,180 |
Arizona | $31,320 |
Arkansas | $21,140 |
California | $30,850 |
Colorado | $27,520 |
Connecticut | $26,970 |
Delaware | $25,310 |
District of Columbia | $43,600 |
Florida | $26,040 |
Georgia | $21,590 |
Hawaii | $55,060 |
Idaho | $22,920 |
Illinois | $24,280 |
Indiana | $21,970 |
Iowa | $21,220 |
Kansas | $19,160 |
Kentucky | $19,530 |
Louisiana | $19,350 |
Maine | $29,320 |
Maryland | $23,500 |
Massachusetts | $31,170 |
Michigan | $24,070 |
Minnesota | $23,560 |
Mississippi | $20,100 |
Missouri | $26,480 |
Montana | $21,570 |
Nebraska | $22,140 |
Nevada | $27,590 |
New Hampshire | $23,540 |
New Jersey | $29,600 |
New Mexico | $20,610 |
New York | $34,800 |
North Carolina | $25,510 |
North Dakota | $20,880 |
Ohio | $21,880 |
Oklahoma | $21,630 |
Oregon | $26,660 |
Pennsylvania | $23,380 |
Rhode Island | $27,100 |
South Carolina | $22,010 |
South Dakota | $22,300 |
Tennessee | $21,180 |
Texas | $27,240 |
Utah | $26,380 |
Vermont | $36,720 |
Virginia | $26,420 |
Washington | $35,390 |
West Virginia | $21,740 |
Wisconsin | $22,740 |
Wyoming | $22,060 |
What Tools do Bartenders Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Bartenders may use on a daily basis:
- Web browser software
- Point of sale POS software
- The General Store
- Intuit QuickBooks Point of Sale
- MICROS Systems HSI Profits Series
- NCR Advanced Checkout Solution
- NCR NeighborhoodPOS
- Compris software
How do I Become a Bartender?
What kind of Bartender requirements are there?
What work experience do I need to become a Bartender?
Where Bartenders Are Employed
Bartenders work in the following industries:
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Bartender may also be interested in:
References:
Image Credit: U.S. Army Europe Images via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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