Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Understanding customer needs and providing helpful, professional service.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Working effectively with people by building relationships, understanding others, and responding appropriately.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
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. Information on certifications is available from CareerOneStop. 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.
Your Next Step
Review training, certifications, apprenticeships, or employer-based preparation that may support entry into this career.
Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Employment of bartenders is projected to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. About 121,200 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. Bartenders Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Bartenders 5% Food and beverage serving workers 4% Total, all occupations 3% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Bartenders Do
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
Work Environment
Bartenders held about 762,600 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of bartenders were as follows:
| Full-service restaurants | 41% |
| Drinking places (alcoholic beverages) | 25 |
| Traveler accommodation | 7 |
| 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.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. 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.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about bartenders by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.