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What is a bar manager/bartender and how to become one
A bar manager monitors and manages the operation of a bar to run smoothly and efficiently. You will typically work in hotels, restaurants, and owned private bars to ensure that food, services, and beverages preparation are monitored. Whenever such services are needed, you are to coordinate with the HR manager regarding recruitment needs, hiring, and training of new staff. You will be in charge of firing an irresponsible bartender.
As a bar manager, you must hold meetings with your staff and communicate with the assistant bar manager on assigned responsibilities and tasks as well as a sales target. You are to inform staff on the unavailability of drinks and products and implement workplace policies to ensure efficiency and achieve set goals. You also need to consider the sales of some products such as liquor and tobacco, and you must inform your staff of the new law and rules regarding their sales. Plus, you must ensure that the environment for sales is neat and healthy.
A bar manager must have good communication skills, excellent interpersonal skills, leadership capacity, and knowledge of basic computer skills. You will earn an average of $71,000 annually with at least a minimum of a high school diploma certificate.
Avg. Salary $25,051
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 18%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.92%
Asian 5.59%
Black or African American 10.34%
Hispanic or Latino 15.89%
Unknown 5.26%
White 62.01%
Genderfemale 51.46%
male 48.54%
Age - 34American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 34Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
Bar manager/bartender career paths
Key steps to become a bar manager/bartender
Explore bar manager/bartender education requirements
Start to develop specific bar manager/bartender skills
Skills Percentages Wine 23.37% Bartending 16.03% Cleanliness 9.58% Customer Service 7.64% POS 5.55% Complete relevant bar manager/bartender training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New bar managers/bartender learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a bar manager/bartender based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real bar manager/bartender resumes.Gain additional bar manager/bartender certifications
More About CertificationsBar manager/bartender certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific bar manager/bartender certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for bar managers/bartender include Hospitality Skill Certification for Bartender and Food Safety Manager Certification.
Research bar manager/bartender duties and responsibilities
- Manage payroll and timekeeping including completion of proper paperwork for new hires and terminations.
- Operate large-volume cooking equipment such as grills, deep fryers, stoves and ovens.
- Direct bartending operations, overseeing seamless beverage service, scheduling, inventory management and customer service.
- Take drink and food orders, enter orders in the POS system, collect and process cash and credit card payments.
Prepare your bar manager/bartender resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your bar manager/bartender resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a bar manager/bartender resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable bar manager/bartender resume templates
Build a professional bar manager/bartender resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your bar manager/bartender resume.
Apply for bar manager/bartender jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a bar manager/bartender job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first bar manager/bartender job
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Average bar manager/bartender salary
The average bar manager/bartender salary in the United States is $25,051 per year or $12 per hour. Bar manager/bartender salaries range between $17,000 and $36,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do bar managers/bartender rate their job?
Bar manager/bartender reviews
Connecting with customers/regulars, building a foundation and not only making money for myself, but my bar. Making sure everyone has an amazing time while I’m on the clock!
Bad management
Meeting new people. Each day is a new experience.
Some people are not very nice, they can be condescending and speak to you as though bartending is not a legitimate job choice.
Always loved working with people in the bar atmosphere I'm just looking for something different now
Sometimes things got out of hand when working at a bar and you needed hope
Updated January 8, 2025
