What does a bar back do?
A bar back performs various support tasks in restaurants and other dining establishments. They may assist bartenders and other staff by taking orders, serving drinks, monitoring inventories, re-stocking supplies, discarding the trash, and maintaining the cleanliness of different areas. They may also participate in opening and closing the establishment, replenishing items such as napkins and garnishes, conducting regular maintenance checks, and performing basic maintenance repairs as necessary. Moreover, as a bar back, it is essential to maintain an open communication line with co-workers, coordinating to maintain an efficient workflow.
Bar back responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real bar back resumes:
- Manage bar revenues/process orders on computerize POS system.
- Serve as bar-back to staff bartenders.
- Plan out the seating chart and organize the bar reservations.
- Bar back and run food for this company in Tallahassee during college.
- Clean tables and run food to tables while ensuring a good customer experience.
- Charge with replenishing and cleaning keg coolers, liquor pump rooms and CO2 area.
- Set up and breakdown for small and large events, bar backing and assistant bartending.
- Stock bar with beer wine liquor and relate supplies such as ice glassware napkin or straws.
- Set up and break down banquets, portable bars, concerts, horse races, and charity events.
- Prepare and serve mixed drinks, beer, wine and cocktails in a fast pace and high volume environment.
- Set up bars and beer tubs, maintain bars and beer tubs by keeping them well stock throughout day/ event.
- Inspect for cleanliness and availability of supplies when necessary.
- Function as lead bar-back during high-volume times delegating assignments.
- Work alongside bartending and server staff and interact with customers
- Monitor and maintain cleanliness, sanitation, and organization of assign station and service areas.
Bar back skills and personality traits
We calculated that 26% of Bar Backs are proficient in BARS, Wine, and Cleanliness. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Customer-service skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Bar Backs that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- BARS, 26%
Bar back Responsible for stocking multiple bars for bartenders, also responsible for garnishes and beverages being prepared for the evening.
- Wine, 24%
Prepared and served mixed drinks, beer, wine and cocktails in a fast paced and high volume environment.
- Cleanliness, 21%
Inspected for cleanliness and availability of supplies when necessary.
- Bar-Back, 13%
Functioned as lead bar-back during high-volume times delegating assignments.
- Excellent Guest, 2%
Stay focused and nurture an excellent guest experience.
- Fresh Fruit, 2%
cut and keep fresh fruit at all times.
Most bar backs use their skills in "bars," "wine," and "cleanliness" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential bar back responsibilities here:
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a bar back to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what bar backs do because "food and beverage serving and related workers must listen to customers’ orders and relay them correctly to the kitchen staff so that the orders are prepared as requested." Additionally, a bar back resume shows how bar backs use communication skills: "developed excellent customer service and communication skills. "
Customer-service skills. Another essential skill to perform bar back duties is customer-service skills. Bar backs responsibilities require that "food service establishments rely on good food and customer service to keep customers and succeed in a competitive industry." Bar backs also use customer-service skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "worked in one of the most high- paced bars in downtown miami with more than 250 customers a night. "
The three companies that hire the most bar backs are:
- Dave & Buster's272 bar backs jobs
- Compass Group USA113 bar backs jobs
- Twin Peaks Restaurants61 bar backs jobs
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Compare different bar backs
Bar back vs. Dining room hostess
A dining room server performs various tasks to give patrons a positive dining experience. Their job usually entails greeting customers and presenting the menu, taking their orders, answering inquiries, recommending products and other services, serving drinks and food, and handling concerns professionally and courteously. They are also responsible for coordinating with cashiers and kitchen staff, cleaning and preparing tables for new customers, and assisting staff as needed. In some establishments, a dining room server may also participate in preparing drinks or ingredients, monitoring supply inventories, and collecting payments.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between bar backs and dining room hostess. For instance, bar back responsibilities require skills such as "bars," "wine," "bar-back," and "taps." Whereas a dining room hostess is skilled in "reservations," "cpr," "departmental policies," and "seat guests." This is part of what separates the two careers.
The education levels that dining room hostesses earn slightly differ from bar backs. In particular, dining room hostesses are 2.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a bar back. Additionally, they're 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Bar back vs. Dining room server
Each career also uses different skills, according to real bar back resumes. While bar back responsibilities can utilize skills like "bar-back," "taps," "fresh fruit," and "cocktail servers," dining room servers use skills like "food handling," "senior care," "meal service," and "culinary."
On average, dining room servers earn a higher salary than bar backs. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, dining room servers earn the most pay in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $29,758. Whereas bar backs have higher pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $28,255.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Dining room servers tend to reach similar levels of education than bar backs. In fact, they're 0.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Bar back vs. Line attendant
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from bar back resumes include skills like "bars," "wine," "bar-back," and "taps," whereas a line attendant is more likely to list skills in "safety regulations," "osha," "math," and "quality issues. "
Line attendants earn the best pay in the manufacturing industry, where they command an average salary of $33,717. Bar backs earn the highest pay from the finance industry, with an average salary of $28,255.Most line attendants achieve a similar degree level compared to bar backs. For example, they're 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Bar back vs. Dining room coordinator
Types of bar back
Updated January 8, 2025
