What is a bar back & bartender and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
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There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a bar back & bartender. For example, did you know that they make an average of $11.6 an hour? That's $24,129 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 18% and produce 92,000 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreBar Back & BartenderUS Average
Salary
1.9

Avg. Salary $24,129

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
7.4

Growth Rate 18%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.63%

Asian 3.55%

Black or African American 5.21%

Hispanic or Latino 20.71%

Unknown 6.08%

White 63.81%

Gender

female 13.91%

male 86.09%

Age - 32
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 32
Stress Level
7.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
4.1

Complexity Level is basic

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
10.0

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Bar Back & Bartender career paths

Key steps to become a bar back & bartender

  1. Explore bar back & bartender education requirements

    Most common bar back & bartender degrees

    Bachelor's

    46.3 %

    High School Diploma

    24.6 %

    Associate

    19.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific bar back & bartender skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Wine49.84%
    Drink Orders10.77%
    Excellent Guest6.67%
    Customer Service6.63%
    Bartending4.73%
  3. Complete relevant bar back & bartender training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New bar back & bartenders learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a bar back & bartender based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real bar back & bartender resumes.
  4. Research bar back & bartender duties and responsibilities

    • Organize weekly bartending classes open to the public, manage new applicants and test staff for speed and accuracy.
    • Manage bar staff and purchased/manage the wine and liquor inventory
    • Manage payroll and timekeeping including completion of proper paperwork for new hires and terminations.
    • Negotiate bottle service pricing, ensure attentive service for VIP regulars and high-spenders.
  5. Prepare your bar back & bartender resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your bar back & bartender resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a bar back & bartender resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Bar Back & Bartender Resume templates

    Build a professional Bar Back & Bartender resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Bar Back & Bartender resume.
    Bar Back & Bartender Resume
    Bar Back & Bartender Resume
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    Bar Back & Bartender Resume
    Bar Back & Bartender Resume
    Bar Back & Bartender Resume
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    Bar Back & Bartender Resume
    Bar Back & Bartender Resume
  6. Apply for bar back & bartender jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a bar back & bartender job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Bar Back & Bartender Job

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Average bar back & bartender salary

The average Bar Back & Bartender salary in the United States is $24,129 per year or $12 per hour. Bar back & bartender salaries range between $14,000 and $40,000 per year.

Average Bar Back & Bartender Salary
$24,129 Yearly
$11.60 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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