Explore Jobs
Find Specific Jobs
Explore Careers
Explore Professions
Best Companies
Explore Companies
What is a head bartender and how to become one
Head bartenders are in charge of overseeing the running of the bar. They work in bars or restaurants and assist in taking orders and serving customers during busy shifts. Also, they ensure the bar is clean and tidy every time. Furthermore, they regularly check inventory and order stock when it is low. Likewise, they supervise to ensure everything is delivered accordingly. Other duties include scheduling shifts, training staff, and managing the budget and payroll. Asides from that, they attend to complaints and disturbances in a polite and professional manner.
Employers require a high school diploma and previous experience in a similar role. To succeed in this role, you need customer service, problem-solving, organization, leadership, communication, and math skills. You must also be physically fit and be conversant with business practices. Head bartenders make an average salary of $33,785 annually. This falls between $19,000 and $59,000.
Avg. Salary $89,366
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate 18%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.63%
Asian 3.72%
Black or African American 5.75%
Hispanic or Latino 19.85%
Unknown 6.08%
White 63.96%
Genderfemale 50.55%
male 49.45%
Age - 32American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 32Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is basic
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
Head Bartender career paths
Key steps to become a head bartender
Explore head bartender education requirements
Start to develop specific head bartender skills
Skills 
Percentages Customer Service 19.33% Wine 18.37% Bartending 9.87% Non-Alcoholic Beverages 6.40% Craft Beer 6.14% Complete relevant head bartender training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New head 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 head bartender based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real head bartender resumes.Gain additional head bartender certifications
More About CertificationsHead bartender certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific head bartender certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for head bartenders include Hospitality Skill Certification for Bartender and Certified Professional - Food Safety (CP-FS).
Research head bartender duties and responsibilities
- Direct bartending operations and manage inventory for the bar area.
- Manage payroll and timekeeping including completion of proper paperwork for new hires and terminations.
- Input data for POS systems, including monthly inventory, and maintaining all POS systems.
- Certify trainer, responsible for weekly bar inventory for restaurant purchases, highly focuse on upselling.
Prepare your head bartender resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your head 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 head 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 Head Bartender Resume templates
Build a professional Head 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 Head Bartender resume.
Apply for head bartender jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a head bartender job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First Head Bartender Job
Are you a Head Bartender?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average head bartender salary
The average Head Bartender salary in the United States is $89,366 per year or $43 per hour. Head bartender salaries range between $47,000 and $168,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do head bartenders rate their job?
Head Bartender reviews
Connecting with customers/regulars, building a foundation and not only making money for myself, but my bar. Making sure everyone has an amazing time while I’m on the clock!
Bad management
Meeting new people. Each day is a new experience.
Some people are not very nice, they can be condescending and speak to you as though bartending is not a legitimate job choice.
Negativity, bad customer service, and dishonesty and disrespect from stafff
Updated January 8, 2025
