Food service
Bartender
Mix and serve drinks to patrons, directly or through waitstaff.
Median pay
$34,340
Growth to 2035
+5%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
121,200
Time to qualify*
1 month
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Bartender
$34,34010% earn under $20,110 · middle half $27,400–$47,570 · top 10% over $73,770
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Bartender
Dealing with the public
Rarely
Constantly
Unpleasant or angry people
Rarely
Constantly
Time pressure
Rarely
Constantly
Freedom to make decisions
Little
A lot
Repeating the same tasks
Rarely
Constantly
Time standing
Rarely
Constantly
Bartender: 0% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Clean glasses, utensils, and bar equipment.
- Collect money for drinks served.
- Balance cash receipts.
- Check identification of customers to verify age requirements for purchase of alcohol.
- Clean bars, work areas, and tables.
- Attempt to limit problems and liability related to customers' excessive drinking by taking steps such as persuading customers to stop drinking, or ordering taxis or other transportation for intoxicated patrons.
- Take beverage orders from serving staff or directly from patrons.
- Serve wine, and bottled or draft beer.
Also called: Banquet Bartender · Bar Captain · Bartender · Mixologist
Outlook and AI
Bartenders held 762,600 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 800,500 by 2035 (+5%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Bartender vs. Waiters and waitresses
- Bartender vs. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Bartender vs. Fast food and counter workers
- Bartender vs. Food preparation worker
- Bartender vs. Chefs and head cooks
- Bartender vs. Food service manager
- Bartender vs. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
- Bartender vs. Cooks, restaurant
- Bartender vs. Cooks, short order