Bartenders

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.

Bartenders held about 756,700 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of bartenders were as follows:

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.

Bartenders typically do not need formal education credentials to enter the occupation. Most states require workers who serve alcoholic beverages to be at least 18 years old. They typically learn their skills on the job.

The median hourly wage for bartenders was $16.12 in May 2024.

Employment of bartenders is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 129,600 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.