Barkeep vs bartender server

The differences between barkeeps and bartender servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a barkeep and a bartender server. Additionally, a bartender server has an average salary of $32,591, which is higher than the $28,654 average annual salary of a barkeep.

The top three skills for a barkeep include professional customer service, POS and bartending. The most important skills for a bartender server are bartending, POS, and non-alcoholic beverages.

Barkeep vs bartender server overview

	Barkeep	Bartender Server
Yearly salary	$28,654	$32,591
Hourly rate	$13.78	$15.67
Growth rate	18%	18%
Number of jobs	25,046	106,784
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 50%	Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age	34	34
Years of experience	2	2

Barkeep vs bartender server salary

Barkeeps and bartender servers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Barkeep	Bartender Server
Average salary	$28,654	$32,591
Salary range	Between $21,000 And $37,000	Between $23,000 And $46,000
Highest paying City	-	Edmonds, WA
Highest paying state	-	Hawaii
Best paying company	-	Earth Fare
Best paying industry	-	Hospitality

Differences between barkeep and bartender server education

There are a few differences between a barkeep and a bartender server in terms of educational background:

	Barkeep	Bartender Server
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 50%	Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Barkeep vs bartender server demographics

Here are the differences between barkeeps' and bartender servers' demographics:

	Barkeep	Bartender Server
Average age	34	34
Gender ratio	Male, 71.0% Female, 29.0%	Male, 33.8% Female, 66.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 3.7% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 3.8% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between barkeep and bartender server duties and responsibilities

Barkeep example responsibilities.

Provide seamless beverage service, managing inventory and operating POS terminal.
Perform all duties of bartending.
Direct bartending operations, overseeing seamless beverage service inventory management, and customer service.
Hire and train new employees in reservation management, facility cleanliness, and bookkeeping supporting daily routine operations.
Clean, prepare and re-stock stations in support of the restaurant and co-workers.

Bartender server example responsibilities.

Use micros, handle money, give change, manage bar cost, keep good customer relations to gain repeat business.
Direct bartending operations, seamless beverage services, inventory management and customer service.
Provide efficient hands-on food and beverage delivery while successfully upselling food and beverage orders.
Optimize bar revenue by upselling drinks and facilitating repeat business by cultivating relationships to encourage repeat patronage.
Fast pace serving customers, bartender on occasion, put orders in micros and get people their checks in a timely matter
Experience utilizing POS system quickly and accurately.

Barkeep vs bartender server skills

Common barkeep skills

Professional Customer Service, 49%
POS, 26%
Bartending, 25%

Common bartender server skills

Bartending, 15%
POS, 10%
Non-Alcoholic Beverages, 9%
Fine Dining, 7%
Drink Orders, 5%
Customer Service, 5%

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Barkeep vs Bartender Server

Updated January 8, 2025

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