How to hire a Sommelier

How to hire a sommelier, step by step

Here's a step-by-step sommelier hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a sommelier job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new sommelier
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The sommelier hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine Employee vs Contractor Status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A sommelier's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, sommeliers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of sommeliers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type Of Sommelier	Description	Hourly Rate
   Sommelier	Waiters and waitresses take orders and serve food and beverages to customers in dining establishments.	$11-32
   Waitress	Waitresses are responsible for ensuring that guests are given proper attention during their visit to the restaurant. They guide guests to their table, provide menu boards, answer any questions the guests may have, take the guests' order, and communicate the order to the kitchen... Show More	$8-16
   Cocktail Waitress	A cocktail waitress, or often called a cocktail server, is a female server who serves alcoholic beverages and food to patrons in nightclubs and bars. Cocktail waitresses are required to interact with customers by taking their food orders, serving them food and drinks, and then processing payments... Show More	$9-17

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common Skills:

   • Wine
   • Fine Dining
   • POS
   • Culinary
   • Spirits
   • Sommeliers
   • Wine Knowledge
   • Guest Satisfaction
   • Wine Program
   • Staff Training
   • BARS
   • STARS
   • Wine Cellar
   • Wine Tastings

   Check All Skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage sales and inventory for premier wine destination restaurant.
   • Wine, spirits and fine products sale.
   • Direct guest interaction and up-sell of wine and spirits.
   • Inventory, purchasing and cost control monitoring, transaction reconciliation, POS programming, payroll, sommelier work.
   • Purchase wines for one of the largest menu varieties in NYC.
   • Market wine selections with sales team through upselling or pouring wine product samples for testing.

   More Sommelier duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your sommelier job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A sommelier can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, sommeliers' average salary in kansas is 56% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level sommeliers 65% less than senior-level sommeliers.
   • Certifications. A sommelier with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a sommelier's salary.

   Average sommelier salary

   $40,584yearly

   $19.51 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level sommelier salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated March 30, 2025

   Average sommelier salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. Salary	Hourly Rate
   1	New York	$63,040	$30
   2	District of Columbia	$60,166	$29
   3	Arizona	$53,752	$26
   4	California	$47,764	$23
   5	Maryland	$43,181	$21
   6	Massachusetts	$42,576	$20
   7	Texas	$39,679	$19
   8	Florida	$36,919	$18
   9	Nevada	$36,540	$18
   10	Colorado	$36,368	$17
   11	Illinois	$34,581	$17
   12	Georgia	$33,520	$16

   Average sommelier salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Openings
   1	Del Frisco's Restaurant Group	$49,186	$23.65
   2	Whim Hospitality	$44,571	$21.43
   3	Lettuce Entertain You	$42,155	$20.27	3
   4	Maggiano's Little Italy	$41,065	$19.74	21
   5	Anthony	$40,967	$19.70	1
   6	Insignia Systems	$40,935	$19.68	1
   7	The Blackstone	$40,859	$19.64	1
   8	Monarch Casino & Resort	$40,124	$19.29	2
   9	Black Enterprise	$39,937	$19.20
   10	Outback Steakhouse	$39,913	$19.19
   11	Hakkasan Group	$39,822	$19.15
   12	Komodo Health	$39,356	$18.92	1
   13	Contessa Health	$39,146	$18.82
   14	Cosme De Net Company Limited	$39,124	$18.81
   15	Del-Mar Inc	$39,124	$18.81
   16	Benu Networks	$39,124	$18.81
   17	Donut Management Inc	$39,124	$18.81
   18	Proper Hospitality	$38,983	$18.74	1
   19	Aimbridge Hospitality	$38,746	$18.63
   20	Harry's Seafood	$38,681	$18.60

4. Writing a Sommelier Job Description

   A sommelier job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a sommelier job description:

   Sommelier job description example

   Founded by CEO John Kunkel, 50 Eggs is a James Beard nominated, multi-faceted, full-service culinary and hospitality firm focused on developing cutting-edge brands with unparalleled dining experiences. 50 Eggs owns and operates the award-winning Yardbird Table & Bar, CHICA, Spring Chicken, and WAKUDA, a bold, artful collision of time and culture, traditional and modern Japanese cuisine and seductive design created by world-renowned, two-Michelin-starred Chef Tetsuya Wakuda and 50 Eggs Hospitality CEO John Kunkel.
   Reports to: General Manager/ Wine Director
   Job Summary: The Sommelier position is responsible for the development and management of the wine by the glass program, wine list, and wine events. The Sommelier must have a great personality and be able to communicate with members and guests that might share different levels of wine knowledge
   
   Job Duties:
   • Responsible for ordering, receiving, inventory, organizing and selling wine for all
   departments.
   • Oversee all wine purchases and cost management.
   • Assist guests during the dinner service with wine recommendations and selection for perfect pairing with their dinner, decanting of the wine and wine service.
   • Develop a training program for all Team Members to improve their knowledge of wine tasting and wine service.
   • Train Team Members in order to maximize their understanding of wine and proper service techniques including glassware, pour levels, storage, beverage pairings and the ability to understand guest preferences.
   • Ensure that all wine is served in proper glassware and in proper condition.
   • Maintain all beverage lists to be accurate, up to date and free of errors.
   
   Job Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
   Must be passionate about wine, must possess superior people skills
   The ability to determine wine faults and maintain proper temperatures in order to showcase products at their maximum potential.
   A strong knowledge of food and beverage pairings.
   Solid understanding of pricing, budgets and cost controls. Operation and programming knowledge of a point of sales system.
   Excellent oral and written communication skills
   Strong computer skills
   Physical Requirements:
   Standing (hours at one time): 4
   Standing (total hours per day): 8
   Lifting/Carrying: up to 40 pounds
   
   Education & Experience:
   Court of Master Sommeliers Certified (level 2) or equivalent in other accredited organization
   3 or more years experience in a similar role in a fine dining restaurant, hotel or country club
   
   With accolades from James Beard and Bon Appétit, Yardbird pays tribute to the craveable American classics that bring people together. Guests can indulge in brunch, lunch, dinner and a curated cocktail program highlighting a dynamic collection of bourbons.

   Copy This Example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right sommelier for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with sommeliers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit sommeliers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your sommelier job on Zippia to find and recruit sommelier candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit sommeliers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new sommelier

   Once you've selected the best sommelier candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new sommelier first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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