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Bartender Salary: Qualifications And More

bartender

image source: Pexels

Bartending is a great job for many types of people. College students, writers, and aspiring singers and actors have the opportunity to work flexible hours such as nights and weekends. Furthermore, the average bartender salary is not bad. However, the work is physically hard; so if you are not in shape, it is probably not the best job for you.

Many people do not get into bartending for the bartender salary. The pay is better than working an entry-level job as a gas station attendant, but it is not what you could make as an external auditor or CPA-holding professional tax specialist either. Overall, it may be a good job if you are still working on your education for a white-collar career or you are looking for a career in bar management or bar ownership. It may take you 10 years to make manager without formal education or 20 years to own a bar; but if you want to own your own business, a bar is an excellent way to go. With that being said, let's get into the job description, bartender salary, qualifications and more.

Quick Navigation
JOB DESCRIPTION
EDUCATION/TRAINING
QUALIFICATIONS
SALARY
BARTENDER SALARY: CAREER PATH
Conclusion

JOB DESCRIPTION

bartender and costumer

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What is there to bartending besides serving drinks to customers? Let's dive into this.

  • Greet customers - Depending on the setting, the bartender is the first or second face of a business a customer sees. A bartender needs to make sure customers are comfortable so they stay, spend money, tip well and come back.
  • Take orders - Bartenders are expected to take orders directly from patrons and from waitresses who order for the patrons.
  • Serve drinks - The most apparent part of being a bartender is serving bottled and canned alcoholic beverages to individuals patronizing the establishment.
  • Make drinks - One of the most important technical job aspects of bartending is mixing cocktails according to the bar's recipes. If a bar has a signature drink that a customer has been ordering for years, it reflects poorly on the bar's quality control if you do a bad job.
  • Card patrons - Not all bars have doormen checking IDs before potential customers can get in. Sometimes the onus is on the bartender to ensure the customer is of legal drinking age.
  • Clean the bar - Ensure enough drinking vessels are clean to serve patrons with
  • Accurately handle money - You must be able to quickly and accurately handle cash and credit card transactions, so you can continue to serve other guests. As a manager, you will be expected to verify the accuracy of the cash in the drawer to look for fraud or skimming.
  • Manage stock - You have to learn how much beer, liquor, wine and champagne is going to go out on a typical night and make sure you order more with enough lead to keep it in stock. This is particularly important when local events are going on like a huge college football rivalry against the two top teams in your conference.
  • Monitor guests - As a bartender, you must ensure patrons are not too inebriated to drink further or drive, as you may lose your job and spend time in prison or face a hefty fine. Also, your place of employment may find their liquor license temporarily suspended and facing massive financial penalties

EDUCATION/TRAINING

different kinds of cocktails

image source: Pe​​xels

One reason the starting bartender salary is so low is the low barrier to entry. There are no formal education requirements; although many who want to pursue bartending as a career attend a bartending school. The total length of class time varies, but usually the course lasts a few weeks. You will learn about local and state regulations regarding the sale of alcohol, cocktail recipes, proper dress and etiquette and how to stock a bar. Others may opt to take a class at a local technical or vocational school.


Another way to get a job as a bartender is to train on the job for a few weeks as a bar back. Shadow a seasoned bartender to learn the ropes regarding company policy, how to mix and pour drinks, how to communicate effectively with customers and, if applicable, how to handle and serve food.

QUALIFICATIONS

bartender at the counter

image source: Pexe​​ls

There are several traits good bartenders have.

  • Communication skills - Effective communication is crucial. You need to be able to explain clearly menu options to customers, food orders to the kitchen and issues to your supervisor.
  • Customer service - Bartenders work in the customer service industry and can make an outstanding living off of tips if they create a bond with their customers. Great customer service may even cause loyal customers to recommend the bar to their friends, bringing you in more business and the potential for more tips.
  • Decision-making skills - It is critical you can make good decisions. Look for signs that a patron is too inebriated to drive. Cut them off and offer to call them a cab or Uber. In college towns like Tuscaloosa, bartenders can even call the police and they will drive a drunk patron home and arrange to have their car towed back to their house or apartment as well.
  • Physical stamina - A bartender has to be able to stand on his or her feet for long hours every night or day. Wear non-slip shoes with inserts for support if you have trouble standing for long periods of time. Expect to walk around seven miles per shift.
  • Physical strength - Bartenders are expected to move heavy cases of spirits, beer, glasses and more. Make sure you can comfortably lift 50 pounds repeatedly before you apply for a bartending job.

SALARY

drinks

image source: Pex​​els

The average bartender salary varies greatly from establishment to establishment. A list based on industry follows.

  • Traveler accommodation - $
  • Restaurants and other eating places - $
  • Amusement, gambling and recreation industries - $
  • Drinking places (alcoholic beverage) - $
  • Civic and social organizations - $

To learn more about a bartender salary, it is important to note that bartenders are generally classified as tipped employees. By law, if you receive more than $$ per month on a regular basis, you are a tipped employee and your employer is only required to pay you $ per hour. The exception to this rule is if you earn poor tips one day, your employer is legally required to provide you with daily pay that is equal to at least your state's minimum wage requirements.


For example, in Oregon, the state minimum wage is $ per hour. Your employer is required to ensure you make at least $$$ before taxes and insurance for the day. If you only made $$ between your base compensation and tips, your employer will pay you an additional $.

BARTENDER SALARY: CAREER PATH

bottles of drinks

image source: Pex​​els

If you are industrious, you may not care as much about a bartender salary, because you have a bigger goal in mind than taking home cash every night. Many bartenders start out as hostesses, waitresses or cocktail waitresses, so they have experience with the company before they get hired as a bartender. Others, train as a bar back for a few weeks to a year to gain experience. The average bartender's assistant makes between $ per year. For reference, minimum wage earners make $ per year before tax.


The average bartender salary, depending on the industry, is between $ and $$ per year. The bottom 10% of earners may make $ or less per year, while the top 10% of earners may make $$$ or more. This depends on what kind of establishment you work in and the demographics of the residents and tourists who visit your city of employment.


The average bar manager salary is $$$ per year. Duties and responsibilities include running the bar program. Expect to watch numbers such as beverages your bar has in stock compared to how much your point of sales system shows, expenses and revenue and managing the staff.


The average general manager salary is $$$ per year.


After 20 years in the industry, you can upgrade your starting bartender salary once again by leveraging both experience and liquid capital to buy or start your own bar. The average bar costs $$$ to purchase. Especially if you are purchasing an existing bar, expect around $$ per month in revenue and $ per month in expenses. This means after two years in business, you can pay off your investors and start to pay yourself. A 20% profit margin for bars is standard, so if your bar generated $$ per month in revenue, you can expect it to net around $ per month before taxes.


Conclusion

A career in bartending involves much more than serving beer and liquor. Bartenders have the responsibility of ensuring patrons are legally old enough to drink and safely and effectively dealing with them when they are too inebriated to drink more or drive. They need physical stamina and strength to walk several miles per shift and regularly lifting 50 pound cases of beer, mugs, glasses and spirits. Industries such as hotels and restaurants tend to offer much higher tips than establishments specifically selling alcohol. The rural South and Midwest will also provide you with fewer tips than large, coastal cities.

If you have a knack for creative cocktails, customer service, and bar management, one day you can open your own bar, even if you don't have a college education. Bars typically have an excellent 20% profit margin, making them a good choice if you have a significant interest in the industry. For your best shot at upper-level positions within a bar, take classes at local trade schools or community colleges, work hard and outshine all your coworkers with your outgoing personality and quality mixing skills.

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