Education:
43%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
37%
Less than a High School Diploma
Bartender
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Job Outlook:
As fast as average
Education:
None
Salary
High:
$57,220.00
Average:
$34,490.00
Hourly
Average:
$16.58
What they do:
Mix and serve drinks to patrons, directly or through waitstaff.
On the job, you would:
- Clean glasses, utensils, and bar equipment.
- Collect money for drinks served.
- Balance cash receipts.
Important Qualities
Communication skills. Bartenders must listen carefully to their customers’ orders, explain drink and food items, and make menu recommendations. They also should be able to converse with customers on a variety of subjects.
Customer-service skills. By creating a friendly and welcoming environment, bartenders help to ensure repeat business.
Decision-making skills. Bartenders must observe customers, identify those who are intoxicated or underage, and deny them service.
Multitasking skills. Bartenders must make drinks for and take orders from multiple customers, monitor customers at the bar, and receive payments in a fast, efficient manner.
Physical stamina. Bartenders spend hours walking or standing while preparing drinks and serving customers.
Physical strength. Bartenders should be able to lift and carry cases of liquor, beer, and other bar supplies that may weigh up to 50 pounds.
Personality
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Characteristics of this Career |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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90% | Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. | |
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90% | Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. | |
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84% | Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical. | |
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82% | Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. | |
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78% | Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. | |
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77% | Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job. | |
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75% | Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations. | |
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74% | Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. | |
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71% | Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. | |
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69% | Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. | |
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68% | Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. | |
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67% | Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. | |
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66% | Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles. | |
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65% | Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems. | |
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60% | Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems. | |
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58% | Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
78% | Enterprising - Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law. | |
|
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78% | Conventional - Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources. | |
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56% | Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Values of the Work Environment |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
72% | Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service. |
Aptitude
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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72% | Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. | |
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69% | Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. | |
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56% | Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). | |
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56% | Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. | |
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56% | Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). | |
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53% | Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. | |
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53% | Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position. | |
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53% | Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects. |
Job Details
Responsibilities
Stock serving stations or dining areas with food or supplies.
Process customer bills or payments.
Enforce rules or regulations.
Balance receipts.
Enforce rules or regulations.
Communicate with customers to resolve complaints or ensure satisfaction.
Clean tableware.
Take customer orders.
Serve food or beverages.
Clean food service areas.
Mix ingredients.
Serve food or beverages.
Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
Enforce rules or regulations.
Prepare foods for cooking or serving.
Arrange tables or dining areas.
Manage food service operations or parts of operations.
Coordinate activities of food service staff.
Plan menu options.
Cook foods.
Create new recipes or food presentations.
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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93% | Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? | |
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89% | Spend Time Standing - How much does this job require standing? | |
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81% | Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job? | |
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80% | Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? | |
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78% | Physical Proximity - To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people? | |
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76% | Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? | |
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74% | Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions? | |
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73% | Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People - How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements? | |
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72% | Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? | |
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68% | Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - How much does this job require making repetitive motions? | |
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68% | Spend Time Walking and Running - How much does this job require walking and running? | |
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67% | Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls? | |
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66% | Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization? | |
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66% | Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? | |
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62% | Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals? | |
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57% | Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer? | |
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56% | Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body - How much does this job require bending or twisting your body? | |
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55% | Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job? | |
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52% | Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job? |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Tasks & Values |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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77% | Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests. | |
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75% | Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. | |
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69% | Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity. | |
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69% | Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. | |
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67% | Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. | |
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66% | Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things. | |
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66% | Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. | |
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65% | Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people. | |
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64% | Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money. | |
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62% | Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. | |
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62% | Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks. | |
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61% | Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance. | |
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61% | Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. | |
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61% | Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients. | |
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60% | Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. | |
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60% | Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. | |
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59% | Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials. | |
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58% | Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions. | |
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58% | Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills. | |
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58% | Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. | |
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57% | Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others. | |
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57% | Selling or Influencing Others - Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions. | |
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56% | Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. | |
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56% | Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. | |
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55% | Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. | |
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54% | Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members. | |
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53% | Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail. |
What Bartenders Do
Bartenders mix drinks according to recipes.
Bartenders mix drinks and serve them directly to customers or through wait staff.
Duties
Bartenders typically do the following:
- Greet customers, offer menus, and inform them of specials
- Take customers’ food and drink orders
- Pour and serve wine, beer, and other drinks
- Mix drinks according to recipes
- Check customers’ identification to ensure that they are of legal drinking age
- Clean bars, tables, and work areas
- Collect payment from customers and return change
- Engage with customers
- Manage the operation of the bar and restock liquor and bar supplies
- Monitor the level of intoxication of customers
Bartenders fill drink orders for customers either directly at the bar or through waiters and waitresses serving the dining room. Bartenders must know a wide range of drink recipes and be able to mix drinks quickly. When measuring and pouring beverages, they must avoid spillage or overpouring. They should be personable with customers at the bar and also work well with waiters and waitresses and kitchen staff to ensure prompt service.
In addition to mixing and serving drinks, bartenders stock and prepare beverage garnishes and maintain ice, glasses, and other bar supplies. They also wash glassware and utensils and serve food to customers who eat at the bar. Bartenders usually are responsible for stocking and maintaining an inventory of liquor, mixers, and other bar supplies.
Bartenders may collect payment from customers after each drink is served or open a tab for a customer and collect payment when closing it at the end of service. They also must monitor customers for intoxication, determine when to deny service and, in some cases, arrange for safe transportation.
Work Environment
Bartenders held about 641,300 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of bartenders were as follows:
| Restaurants and other eating places | 43% |
| Drinking places (alcoholic beverages) | 28 |
| Traveler accommodation | 6 |
| Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries | 6 |
| Civic and social organizations | 5 |
Bartenders typically work indoors, some work outdoors at pool or beach bars or at catered events.
During busy hours, bartenders are under pressure to serve customers quickly and efficiently while ensuring that no alcohol is served to minors or to overly intoxicated customers.
Bartenders do repetitive tasks, and sometimes they lift heavy kegs of beer and cases of liquor. In addition, the work may be stressful, particularly when they deal with intoxicated customers.
Work Schedules
Bartenders often work late evenings, on weekends, and on holidays. Part-time work is common, and schedules may vary.
Getting Started
How to Become a Bartender
Bartenders should be friendly, tactful, and attentive when dealing with customers.
Bartenders typically do not need formal education credentials to enter the occupation, although some employers require or prefer for candidates to have a high school diploma. They typically learn their skills through on-the-job training that lasts a few weeks. Some bartenders gain experience in other jobs or occupations.
Most states require workers who serve alcoholic beverages to be at least 18 years old. Bartenders must be familiar with state and local laws concerning the sale of alcoholic beverages.
Education
Bartenders typically need no formal education to enter the occupation, although employers may prefer or require candidates to have a high school diploma. Some aspiring bartenders acquire their skills by attending a school for bartending or taking courses at a community college. These programs usually include instruction on mixing cocktails, serving customers, and setting up a bar. Some schools help their graduates find jobs.
Training
Bartenders typically receive on-the-job training that lasts a few weeks. Under the guidance of an experienced bartender, trainees learn cocktail recipes, bar-setup procedures, and customer service, including how to handle unruly customers and other challenging situations. In establishments where bartenders serve food, training may cover teamwork and proper food-handling procedures.
Some employers teach bartending skills to new workers by providing self-study programs, which may include videos and instructional booklets, that explain service skills.
License and Certification
Depending on the state and locality, a server, owner, manager, or business may be required to maintain a license to sell alcohol. Most states require that bartenders be at least 18 years old.
Many states and localities require bartenders to complete a responsible-server course. This course typically covers topics such as laws related to the sale of alcoholic beverages, responsible serving practices, and conflict management.
Although optional, professional certification may demonstrate basic knowledge or competency in bartending practices. Certification is available upon successful completion of some courses or programs.
Work Experience in a Related Occupation
Bartenders typically do not need related work experience to enter the occupation. However, some employers prefer or require candidates to have food-service experience in occupations such as waiters and waitresses or food and beverage serving and related workers. Others start as bartender helpers and progress to become bartenders as they learn basic mixing procedures and recipes.
Job Outlook
Employment of bartenders is projected to grow 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 113,500 openings for bartenders are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Population and income growth are expected to result in increased demand for food, drinks, and entertainment. More bartenders will be needed to meet this demand, especially in full-service restaurants and breweries. Bartenders also will be needed in some entertainment venues as services expand.
Contacts for More Information
For more information about bartenders, visit
United States Bartenders Guild
Occupational Requirements Survey
For a profile highlighting selected BLS data on occupational requirements, see
Bartenders (PDF)
Similar Occupations
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of bartenders.
| Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Flight Attendants |
Flight attendants provide routine services and respond to emergencies to ensure the safety and comfort of airline passengers. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $63,760 |
|
Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers |
Food and beverage serving and related workers take and prepare orders, clear tables, and do other tasks associated with providing food and drink to customers. |
No formal educational credential | $28,130 |
|
Food Preparation Workers |
Food preparation workers perform a variety of tasks other than cooking, such as slicing meat and brewing coffee. |
No formal educational credential | $29,790 |
|
Waiters and Waitresses |
Waiters and waitresses take orders and serve food and beverages to customers in dining establishments. |
No formal educational credential | $29,120 |
|
Food Service Managers |
Food service managers are responsible for the daily operation of restaurants or other establishments that prepare and serve food and beverages. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $61,310 |