Bartenders mix and serve to patrons alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks following standard recipes.   Bartenders are required to mix ingredients, serve wine and draft or bottled beer.  They collect money for drinks served, and arrange bottles and glasses in an attractive display. They also slice and pit fruit for garnishing drinks. Bartenders must order or requisition liquors and supplies, clean glasses, utensils, and bar equipment; in many operations they also must prepare appetizers.  Bartenders stock the bar with liquor and mixers as well as other ingredients.  They track inventory of wines, beers, liquor and other supplies.  Bartenders must have good memories for recipes of mixed beverages, as well as an ability to recall, out of many patrons lining the bars, who ordered what drinks and what other special instructions the customer may have requested.  A smile and good personality may increase a bartender’s income substantially as tips may amount to as much as 50 percent of a bartender’s income.

Average Salary:

$20,460

Average Hours (per week):

Part-time work is common for bartenders. Half of all bartenders work on a part-time basis.  Long business hours permit more flexible scheduling.  The job frequently requires long evening hours, well past midnight. Food service and drinking establishments typically maintain long dining hours and offer flexible and varied work opportunities. Many food and beverage serving and related workers work evenings, weekends, and holidays. The long business hours allow for more flexible schedules that appeal to younger applicants, who can gain valuable work experience. More than one-fifth of all food and beverage serving and related workers were 16 to 19 years old in 2008 — about six times the proportion for all workers.

Union:

Many large hotels and restaurant kitchen workers belong to unions, including the Service Employees International Union or the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union.

Certifications:

Some states require a bartender’s license or a state health certificate. Bartenders usually must be at least twenty-one years old, but many bars prefer to hire individuals who are twenty-five or older.

Training Period:

Most bartenders are trained on the job. There are a number of vocational schools that offer courses in bartending. Waiting on tables is good experience and may help in learning how to tend bar, by watching the bartender work.

Strongest Market(s):

Bars, cocktail lounges, restaurants, hotels, private clubs, aboard ships, and even on trains, are the best places to seek a job in bartending. All areas of the country are good markets.

Entry Level Salary:

Starting salaries range from $7.00 to $7.53 per hour, plus tips.

Top Salary:

$31,060

Job Growth Forecast:

Projected growth for the next decade is average at 7 to 13 percent.

Related posts:

1. Culinary Jobs – Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants, Bartender Helpers
2. Life as a Bartender
3. Culinary Jobs – Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food
4. Culinary Jobs – Waiters and Waitresses
5. Culinary Jobs – Cook