Bartender

Print

Work Tasks

• Serve alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to customers
• Must know how to make many kinds of drinks quickly
• Take payment from customers and use a cash register
• Restock the bar when needed
• Work in restaurants, bars, hotels, clubs, bowling alleys, and casinos
• Use mixing and measuring tools, different types of glasses, order forms, cash registers, and cash

Salary, Size & Growth

• $26,000 average per year ($12.50 per hour)
• A large occupation (495,400 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (0.8% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: On-the-job training
• Employers Prefer: A high school diploma and a certificate in bartending from a vocational or bartending school
• Skills/Courses: Courses include instruction on state and local laws and regulations, cocktail recipes, attire and conduct, and stocking a bar.
• Certification/Licensing: Some states require bartenders to be bonded and to have a health certificate.