What Does it Take to Be a Bartender?
Bartender Example Mix and serve drinks to patrons, directly or through waitstaff.
A Day in the Life of a Bartender
- Prepare appetizers such as pickles, cheese, and cold meats.
- Plan, organize, and control the operations of a cocktail lounge or bar.
- Stock bar with beer, wine, liquor, and related supplies such as ice, glassware, napkins, or straws.
- Ask customers who become loud and obnoxious to leave, or physically remove them.
- Supervise the work of bar staff and other bartenders.
- Serve wine, and bottled or draft beer.
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Things a Bartender Should Know How to Do
Bartenders state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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.
Types of Bartender
- Bar Captain
- Drink Mixer
- Barmaid
- Bar Tender
- Bar Attendant
Job Demand for Bartenders
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 611,200 jobs in the United States for Bartender. 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 102,300 job openings in this field each 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.
Bartender Average Salary
Bartenders make between $17,610 and $42,230 a year.

Bartenders who work in Hawaii, District of Columbia, or Vermont, make the highest salaries.
How much do Bartenders make in each U.S. state?
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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Bartenders
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 to Become a Bartender
Learn what Bartender education requirements there are.

What work experience do I need to become a Bartender?

Bartenders Sector

The table below shows the approximate number of Bartenders employed by various industries.

Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Bartender might also be interested in the following careers:
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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