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Assistant manager/shift manager vs bar manager

The differences between assistant manager/shift managers and bar managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an assistant manager/shift manager and a bar manager. Additionally, a bar manager has an average salary of $46,828, which is higher than the $37,772 average annual salary of an assistant manager/shift manager.

The top three skills for an assistant manager/shift manager include customer service, cleanliness and food safety. The most important skills for a bar manager are customer service, wine, and beverage orders.

Assistant manager/shift manager vs bar manager overview

Assistant Manager/Shift ManagerBar Manager
Yearly salary$37,772$46,828
Hourly rate$18.16$22.51
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs458,844165,633
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 32%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Average age3939
Years of experience44

What does an assistant manager/shift manager do?

An assistant manager/shift manager assists managers in maintaining an establishment's smooth workflow. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their company or industry of employment, it usually includes participating in setting goals and guidelines, establishing budgets and schedules, delegating tasks among staff, and monitoring operations, solving issues should there be any. They also perform administrative support tasks such as coordinating with internal and external parties, preparing and processing documents, handling calls and correspondence, organizing files, and implementing policies and regulations. In the absence of the manager, an assistant manager assumes their responsibilities to maintain efficient operations.

What does a bar manager do?

Bar managers are also called bar owners or supervisors of bar establishments. The managers are in charge of managing customer complaints, ensuring stocks in the bar, and in scheduling the jobs of employees. They oversee the overall operations of the bar, manage its staff, and ensure that the standards of products and services are met. They maintain the licensure of liquor and make sure that their staff follows the local regulations. Also, they see to it that customers are served promptly.

Assistant manager/shift manager vs bar manager salary

Assistant manager/shift managers and bar managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Assistant Manager/Shift ManagerBar Manager
Average salary$37,772$46,828
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $47,000Between $33,000 And $65,000
Highest paying City-Greenwich, CT
Highest paying state-New Jersey
Best paying company-Greenwich Country Club
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between assistant manager/shift manager and bar manager education

There are a few differences between an assistant manager/shift manager and a bar manager in terms of educational background:

Assistant Manager/Shift ManagerBar Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 32%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeCornell UniversityCornell University

Assistant manager/shift manager vs bar manager demographics

Here are the differences between assistant manager/shift managers' and bar managers' demographics:

Assistant Manager/Shift ManagerBar Manager
Average age3939
Gender ratioMale, 50.7% Female, 49.3%Male, 56.0% Female, 44.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 9.1% White, 57.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 7.9% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between assistant manager/shift manager and bar manager duties and responsibilities

Assistant manager/shift manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage FOH to insure all guests are happy and well taken care of.
  • Run POS system, cash handling, make deposits, serve safe certify
  • Maintain total restaurant cleanliness for every shift would have a clean facility for transaction
  • Implement quality service procedures to provide best in industry beverages while maintaining superior and comfortable experience for Starbucks patrons.
  • Administer network workstations, using networking protocols and unix-base operating systems.

Bar manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage liquor and wine inventory and develop cocktail menus taking advantage of fresh ingredients.
  • Inventory and order bar stock and manage FOH staff, as well as ensured food quality and timeliness of service.
  • Manage front-of-house operations for upscale wine bar and restaurant, including assisting in monitoring and management of inventory and finances.
  • Perform typical bartending duties including all aspects of customer service.
  • Direct all bartending operations as well as ordering and inventory management.
  • Help with shift movement according seniority while abiding by the bartender and culinary CBA.
  • Show more

Assistant manager/shift manager vs bar manager skills

Common assistant manager/shift manager skills
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Cleanliness, 11%
  • Food Safety, 11%
  • Employee Engagement, 6%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 6%
  • Guest Service, 5%
Common bar manager skills
  • Customer Service, 21%
  • Wine, 17%
  • Beverage Orders, 7%
  • Bartending, 5%
  • Payroll, 5%
  • POS, 5%

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