What You Need to Know About Bartender
Job Description: Mix and serve drinks to patrons, directly or through waitstaff.
List of Bartender Job Duties
- Balance cash receipts.
- 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.
- Arrange bottles and glasses to make attractive displays.
- Serve wine, and bottled or draft beer.
- Check identification of customers to verify age requirements for purchase of alcohol.
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Skills Needed to be a Bartender
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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Bartender
- Bar Attendant
- Bar Supervisor
- Bar Manager
- Mixologist
Bartender Job Outlook
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.
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 |
What Tools & Technology 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 to Become a Bartender
Learn what Bartender education requirements there are.

What work experience do I need to become a Bartender?

Where Bartenders Work

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

Related 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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