How to hire an assistant bar manager

How to hire an assistant bar manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step assistant bar manager hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the assistant bar manager you need to hire. Certain assistant bar manager roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   An assistant bar manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, assistant bar managers 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.

   This list presents assistant bar manager salaries for various positions.

   Type of Assistant Bar Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Assistant Bar Manager		$14-25
   Restaurant Supervisor	A restaurant supervisor supervises all the restaurant's tasks to keep the restaurant running smoothly. Besides controlling the restaurant staff members' work schedules, restaurant supervisors also screen, interview, hire and train restaurant staff members... Show more	$13-24
   Chef Manager	The primary role of a Chef Manager is to supervise food preparation. They may work in varies settings, such as restaurants, schools, and hospitals.	$17-37

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Wine
   • Cleanliness
   • Customer Service
   • BARS
   • Payroll
   • Guest Satisfaction
   • Culinary
   • Bartending
   • Fine Dining
   • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
   • Inventory Control
   • Product Knowledge
   • Craft Beer
   • POS

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead and direct FOH staff on effective methods, operations and procedure.
   • Manage daily operations of the front-of-the-house functions in the restaurant, including appearance, presentation, customer experience and professional leadership.
   • Coordinate with employees to complete scheduling, inventory control/ordering, and bartending.
   • Train new and current employees on the company's policies and procedures and the POS system.
   • Select to train all new hires on POS system, food menu and best service practices.
   • Prepare garnishes or snacks for the customers and keep inventories of the alcohols, mixes, and bartending supplies.

   More assistant bar manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the assistant bar manager job description is a good way to get more applicants. An assistant bar manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for an assistant bar manager in Alabama may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level assistant bar manager. Additionally, an assistant bar manager with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average assistant bar manager salary

   $40,986yearly

   $19.70 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level assistant bar manager salary

   $30,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average assistant bar manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$57,933	$28
   2	District of Columbia	$57,305	$28
   3	Connecticut	$54,807	$26
   4	New York	$50,034	$24
   5	Washington	$49,864	$24
   6	Virginia	$49,740	$24
   7	Maryland	$49,554	$24
   8	Oregon	$48,254	$23
   9	Colorado	$45,533	$22
   10	Florida	$45,258	$22
   11	Nevada	$44,713	$22
   12	Michigan	$41,942	$20
   13	North Carolina	$40,631	$20
   14	Tennessee	$39,256	$19
   15	Texas	$39,163	$19
   16	South Carolina	$38,983	$19
   17	Ohio	$38,516	$19
   18	Georgia	$38,274	$18
   19	Illinois	$37,154	$18
   20	Louisiana	$36,511	$18

   Average assistant bar manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Famous Dave's of America	$48,534	$23.33	17
   2	Newcomb and	$43,740	$21.03
   3	Remote	$43,268	$20.80
   4	Game Time	$43,063	$20.70
   5	The Bruce Company	$43,059	$20.70
   6	Xponential Fitness	$42,609	$20.49	36
   7	Penn National Gaming	$42,353	$20.36
   8	Goodwin Recruiting	$41,965	$20.18	1
   9	McMenamins Pubs & Breweries	$39,374	$18.93	1
   10	Concessions International	$38,801	$18.65
   11	Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts	$38,778	$18.64	16
   12	Paris Baguette	$38,032	$18.28	6
   13	Marriott International	$37,339	$17.95	278
   14	Peabody Hotel Group	$37,209	$17.89	1
   15	Compass Group USA	$37,189	$17.88	332
   16	Hilton	$36,970	$17.77	110
   17	Bristol Farms	$35,237	$16.94	4
   18	MGM Resorts International	$34,768	$16.72	25
   19	The Marcus Corporation	$32,579	$15.66	5

4. Writing an assistant bar manager job description

   An assistant bar manager 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 an assistant bar manager job description:

   Assistant bar manager job description example

   TITLE: Bar Assistant Manager (Bar AM)
   
   REPORTS TO: Bar Manager, Food & Beverage Manager and District Management
   
   FLSA CLASS: Hourly non-exempt
   
   The job duties described below are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of this position. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.
   
   Description of the Position:
   
   The primary responsibility of the Bar AM is to oversee all small bars operations under the guidance of the Bar Manager. This position will be expected to be able to perform the responsibilities of each other non-management small bars position (bartender, server etc.) and perform all opening and closing duties of the bars. The AM will oversee the smooth and effective running of the bars in general. Other duties include working outside on a seasonal basis as well as indoors, working in smoking and non-smoking environments and most importantly maintaining and providing excellent customer relations with all customers. The AM may also serve guests by taking food and beverage orders; delivering products in a timely manner; collecting payment; cashiering; work on a point of sale computer system; set-up, maintain, and breakdown service and work areas so that they are well stocked and organized for efficient and safe service; regulating labor; overseeing side work; cleaning duties; supervise and train staff; administrative duties as assigned by manager (i.e. scheduling, payroll etc.); effectively dealing with personnel and customer service issues as they arise; count and distribute tip pool; provide appropriate service to the customer to meet their needs and requests whenever possible to assure customer satisfaction. The AM must be available to help solve & troubleshoot any problems that come up during the course of a shift and fill in for the head manager when they are on vacation. The AM position can be hard physical work and this job takes mental agility and the ability to effectively multi-task in a fast paced and deadline-oriented environment. The AM must also have the ability to work well independently and also as a member of a team. Each employee will be expected to perform their job in a safe manner and report any safety concerns to Head or General Management. All McMenamin employees will also be expected to keep current on all company events, history, and products. Other duties as assigned by the Manager on duty.
   
   Requirements of the Job:
   
   * Obtain and maintain current food handlers and OLCC liquor license
   * Previous bartending experience
   * Previous management experience
   * Excellent knowledge of wine, ales and spirits is required
   * Ability to accurately handle cash and work with numbers
   * Excellent customer service & communication skills
   * A flexible schedule including evenings, weekends and holidays
   * Ability to remain calm and focused in a high volume, deadline-oriented work environment
   * Ability to supervise other employees in an effective manner
   * Working knowledge of all company policies and procedures
   
   Essential Functions of the Job:
   
   * Provide excellent customer service in a high-volume environment
   * Safely lift and carry heavy objects with a hand truck or the help of another person if necessary
   * Must have a value for diversity and the ability to work with individuals from different backgrounds
   * Work for long periods on feet including frequent walking and stair climbing
   * Perform repetitive movement such as pushing, pulling, bending, some twisting and stooping
   * Perform fine hand manipulation including handling small and large objects, computer keyboard usage, writing, chopping and use of kitchen equipment, etc.
   * Ability to communicate clearly
   * Be positive, polite, and cooperative with co-workers, managers, vendors, and customers
   * Work with and around sharp objects, including knives & slicers
   * Work with chemicals used in cleaning and sanitizing (there are some locations which also will require working around cigar and cigarette smoke)
   
   Most importantly, this job requires a positive attitude and a commitment to excellent customer service.
   
   Each employee is expected to come to work ready to have fun and be a positive force.
   
   YOU MUST BE ABLE TO PERFORM THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB WITH OR WITHOUT REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
   
   EOE

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right assistant bar manager for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting assistant bar managers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 assistant bar manager

   Once you've selected the best assistant bar manager 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.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new assistant bar manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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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