Research Summary. Using a combination of public government and company data as well as data gathered from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has created average salary estimates for jobs across the US. Using that data set, the team has identified the types of bartender servers that are the highest paid based on their average annual salaries.
Here is a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of bartender servers:
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Lead Bartender is the highest-paid type of bartender server with an average salary of $34,197 and an average hourly rate of $16.44.
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The second highest-paying type of bartender server is caterer/server, with an average salary of $33,737.
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The average bartender server salary is $32,591 per year, and the average hourly pay is $15.67.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be difficult, and while pay shouldn’t be the only thing you consider in your decision, it is a significant factor. So if you’d like to work as a bartender server, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of bartender servers are so that you can plan your career progression.
Here are the top salaries for different types of bartender servers:
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Lead Bartender
Average Salary: $34,197
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Caterer/Server
Average Salary: $33,737
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Tender
Average Salary: $33,595
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Fine Dining Server
Average Salary: $32,140
Fine dining servers the people who make your stay at a restaurant enjoyable. They deliver well-written orders for the kitchen to prepare and bring your food and beverage. Being a fine dining server is no easy task, as certain skill sets need to be met in order to become an effective dining server. An efficient server is detail-oriented, observant to the needs of the diners, and intuitive. An extensive knowledge of wines and other specific food categories may be required depending on the restaurant.
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Customer Service And Serving
Average Salary: $31,909
Below is a full table of the average pay for various bartender server that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Bartender Servers
| Rank | Job Title | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lead Bartender | |
| 2 | Caterer/Server | |
| 3 | Tender | |
| 4 | Fine Dining Server | |
| 5 | Customer Service And Serving | |
| 6 | Assistant Manager/Server | |
| 7 | Server/Barista | |
| 8 | Server | |
| 9 | Cook/Server | |
| 10 | Banquet Server | |
| 11 | Lead Server | |
| 12 | Line Server | |
| 13 | Server And Hostess | |
| 14 | Bartender | |
| 15 | Cocktail Server | |
| 16 | Beverage Server | |
| 17 | Food Runner | |
| 18 | Food Server | |
| 19 | Bar Manager/Bartender | |
| 20 | Restaurant Server |
Methodology
Zippia uses publicly published information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create its salary estimates.
Our data science team also checks job postings and company-published resources for additional up-to-date salary information for bartender servers.
Once they’ve gathered the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title they’re estimating a salary for. For more details on our salary estimates, you can read the detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Bartender Server Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid bartender server job?
The highest-paid bartender server job is a lead bartender. Lead Bartenders earn an average salary of $34,197, which is $ 16.44 hourly.
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What is a good salary for a bartender server?
A good salary for a bartender server is $32,591 or more. The average bartender server salary is $32,591, so those making at least $32,591 are earning above-average paychecks.
Keep in mind, however, that the average bartender server salary does fluctuate based on location, as companies will adjust their pay scales based on the cost of living in that area. Research what the average salary is in your area for someone of your expertise and experience level to get a more accurate view on how well you’re being paid.
In addition, if you’re just starting your career as a bartender server, the average entry level salary is $0, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $32,591 average, as this includes all bartender servers of all skill and experience levels.
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Do Bartender Server jobs pay well?
No, bartender server jobs don’t pay well. As in any industry, some bartender server jobs pay better than others, but the average bartender server salary of $32,591 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.
In addition to this, many bartender server jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of bartender servers earning $0 a year on average.
Bartender Servers’ salaries will fluctuate based on their experience level, industry, and location, so pay attention to these factors when you’re looking for a job as a bartender server. Do your research on the going rate for a bartender server in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.
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Where do bartender servers get paid the most?
Bartender Servers get paid the most in New Jersey. In New Jersey, bartender servers earn an average annual salary of $41,065 and an average hourly wage of $19.74.
Following NJ, the states with the highest-paid bartender servers are Arizona, Wyoming, and Washington, with average annual salaries of $34,047, $33,382, and $40,811 respectively.
The cities with the highest-paid bartender server salaries are:
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Edmonds, WA – $40,981
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Portland, OR – $39,940
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New York, NY – $39,619
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Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
