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The differences between bar managers and head bartenders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a bar manager, becoming a head bartender takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a head bartender has an average salary of $89,366, which is higher than the $46,828 average annual salary of a bar manager.
The top three skills for a bar manager include customer service, wine and beverage orders. The most important skills for a head bartender are customer service, wine, and bartending.
| Bar Manager | Head Bartender | |
| Yearly salary | $46,828 | $89,366 |
| Hourly rate | $22.51 | $42.96 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 18% |
| Number of jobs | 165,633 | 34,561 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 39 | 34 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
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.
A head bartender is responsible for monitoring bar operations, assisting the bar staff, and ensuring the highest customer satisfaction by addressing the guests' needs and concerns. Head bartenders usually mix drinks, requiring them to have excellent knowledge of the drink mixing industry, experimenting on the menu, and researching current bar drinks to attract and meet guests' demands. The ultimate goal is to generate more revenues and bar patrons. They also monitor stock inventories, coordinate with the manager to request for supplies, and perform administrative duties as needed.
Bar managers and head bartenders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Bar Manager | Head Bartender | |
| Average salary | $46,828 | $89,366 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $65,000 | Between $47,000 And $168,000 |
| Highest paying City | Greenwich, CT | - |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | - |
| Best paying company | Greenwich Country Club | - |
| Best paying industry | Government | - |
There are a few differences between a bar manager and a head bartender in terms of educational background:
| Bar Manager | Head Bartender | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Cornell University | - |
Here are the differences between bar managers' and head bartenders' demographics:
| Bar Manager | Head Bartender | |
| Average age | 39 | 34 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 56.0% Female, 44.0% | Male, 49.5% Female, 50.5% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 3.7% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 8% |