How to hire a bar back & bartender

How to hire a bar back & bartender, step by step

Here's a step-by-step bar back & bartender hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your bar back & bartender job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a bar back & bartender for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect bar back & bartender also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents bar back & bartender salaries for various positions.

   Type of Bar Back & Bartender	Description	Hourly rate
   Bar Back & Bartender	Bartenders mix drinks and serve them directly to customers or through wait staff.	$6-19
   Bartender Manager	Bartender managers are responsible for monitoring the bar's overall operations, ensuring the staff's efficiency in responding to the guests' requests to achieve their highest satisfaction and recommendation. A bartender manager assists with the recruitment and training of new staff and develops effective marketing techniques to boost the bar's image and attract potential customers... Show more	$12-25
   Bartender Server	Bartender servers are employees who work in the restaurant's bar area. They are responsible for assembling customers' drink orders and serving these to customers... Show more	$11-22

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Wine
   • Drink Orders
   • Excellent Guest
   • Customer Service
   • Bartending
   • Bar-Back
   • Fine Dining
   • POS
   • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
   • PUB
   • Food Orders
   • Serving Drinks
   • Beverage Orders
   • Guest Satisfaction

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Organize weekly bartending classes open to the public, manage new applicants and test staff for speed and accuracy.
   • Manage bar staff and purchased/manage the wine and liquor inventory
   • Manage payroll and timekeeping including completion of proper paperwork for new hires and terminations.
   • Negotiate bottle service pricing, ensure attentive service for VIP regulars and high-spenders.
   • Select to target VIP personnel base on continuous track record of outstanding customer support.
   • Need to know a wide variety of specialty cocktails during the day club and using micros.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your bar back & bartender job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A bar back & bartender salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, bar back & bartenders' average salary in mississippi is 59% less than in hawaii.
   • Seniority. Entry-level bar back & bartenders earn 65% less than senior-level bar back & bartenders.
   • Certifications. A bar back & bartender with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a bar back & bartender's salary.

   Average bar back & bartender salary

   $11.60hourly

   $24,129 yearly

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   Entry-level bar back & bartender salary

   $14,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 13, 2025

4. Writing a bar back & bartender job description

   A job description for a bar back & bartender role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a bar back & bartender job description:

   Bar back & bartender job description example

   Join The Inn Crowd and be a part of the Sharkee's family. Come and learn more about the hospitality industry while working with a great team!
   
   Kick-start your career in the Hospitality Industry and become a Server. This is a great opportunity to get first-hand experience and knowledge of the latest food and bar operations in 2022!
   Server / Bartender:
   
   Shifts: We are currently open Monday-Sunday 4pm-12am. Shifts can be 3pm-closing, 5:30pm-closing, but they can very depending on availability and needs
   
   As a Server/Bartender you would be...
   
   Responsible for providing food and beverage service to all guests, while following local health department standards, Suburban Inns' Core Values, as well as going above and beyond to ensure that guests are 100% satisfied.
   
   Benefits Include:
   Employee and Friends & Family hotel and restaurant discounts Earned Paid Time Off for ALL Team Members Insurance (health, vision, dental, life) for full time Team Members Flexible schedules Holiday Pay 8 hours of paid volunteer time per year Advancement opportunities Monetary recognition program Monetary referral program 100% paid maternity/paternity or adoption leave for those who qualify for FMLA Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Pine Rest (3 free counseling visits, online library, and access to legal, financial and elder care consultations)
   Essential Functions:
   Report to work in professionally appropriate attire, presented neat and clean Greet all guests in a friendly, positive manner. Ask questions of guests and make personal connections to make them feel they are welcome and valued Anticipate and meet the needs and expectations of our guests, then go one step further Check section assignment Inspect section prior to lunch/dinner rush (wipe tables, clean window sills, clean table bases, wipe chairs, clean and fill salt & pepper shakers, clean floor) Roll lunch/dinner silverware (knife, fork) Take room service orders and deliver them to guests Obtain orders from guests ensuring accuracy Ensure all guests have proper ID, are over 21 years of age, and that drinks are not served to intoxicated patrons Verify accuracy of the bill, and present to the guest Handle all cash and credit card charges as prescribed by standard operating procedures Advise supervisor of any complaints as soon as possible, but also follow the One More Step guidelines by taking charge of the issue and offering solutions Complete assigned shift duties Pre-bus tables Run food and help others when able Provide pool service to guests in pool area Complete closing shift work Exhibit regular and recurrent attendance records Other duties as requested by management

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find bar back & bartenders for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any bar back & bartenders they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level bar back & bartenders with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your bar back & bartender job on Zippia to find and recruit bar back & bartender 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 bar back & bartenders, 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   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 bar back & bartender

   Once you have selected a candidate for the bar back & bartender position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize 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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new bar back & bartender. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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