Bartender vs bartender manager

The differences between bartenders and bartender managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a bartender and a bartender manager. Additionally, a bartender manager has an average salary of $38,561, which is higher than the $26,362 average annual salary of a bartender.

The top three skills for a bartender include wine, bartending and exceptional guest. The most important skills for a bartender manager are customer service, bartending, and payroll.

Bartender vs bartender manager overview

	Bartender	Bartender Manager
Yearly salary	$26,362	$38,561
Hourly rate	$12.67	$18.54
Growth rate	18%	18%
Number of jobs	57,518	96,408
Job satisfaction	4.67	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age	34	34
Years of experience	2	2

What does a bartender do?

A bartender is an expert in mixing and serving alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages, either directly to customers at the bar or through waitstaff who place drink orders for dine-in or room customers. Bartenders should have a wide range of knowledge of drink recipes and be able to assess customers' needs and preferences to make recommendations. They should mix drinks accurately, quickly, and without waste. They are also responsible for checking the customers' identification to ensure they are of legal drinking age and monitor the level of their intoxication.

What does a bartender manager do?

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. Bartender managers also enforce strict sanitary procedures and safety regulations for everyone's compliance to promote a safe environment within the premises.

Bartender vs bartender manager salary

Bartenders and bartender managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Bartender	Bartender Manager
Average salary	$26,362	$38,561
Salary range	Between $16,000 And $43,000	Between $27,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	Seattle, WA	-
Highest paying state	Hawaii	-
Best paying company	OTTO	-
Best paying industry	Hospitality	-

Differences between bartender and bartender manager education

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

	Bartender	Bartender Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Bartender vs bartender manager demographics

Here are the differences between bartenders' and bartender managers' demographics:

	Bartender	Bartender Manager
Average age	34	34
Gender ratio	Male, 39.7% Female, 60.3%	Male, 40.4% Female, 59.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 3.7% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 3.9% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between bartender and bartender manager duties and responsibilities

Bartender example responsibilities.

Train and manage all new bartenders achieving significant results in their productivity and knowledge.
Manage bar and staff, tend bar, DJ and operate karaoke equipment.
Manage and promote company Facebook account.
Provide seamless beverage service, managing inventory and operating POS terminal.
Manage payroll and timekeeping including completion of proper paperwork for new hires and terminations.
Direct bartending operations, overseeing beverage service, scheduling, inventory management and customer service.

Bartender manager example responsibilities.

Manage and organize deliveries of excessive wine orders and liquor inventory.
Manage daily operations of the front-of-the-house functions in the restaurant, including appearance, presentation, customer experience and professional leadership.
Supervise bartending operations and management of staff, scheduling and inventory control.
Involve bartending and bar management in a restaurant/bar/live entertainment environment.
Complete training through Starbucks to receive certifications.
Edit manual for roasting when programs are changed/made.

Bartender vs bartender manager skills

Common bartender skills

Wine, 23%
Bartending, 10%
Exceptional Guest, 7%
Cleanliness, 6%
Non-Alcoholic Beverages, 5%
Cash Handling, 4%

Common bartender manager skills

Customer Service, 24%
Bartending, 10%
Payroll, 6%
Craft Beer, 5%
Non-Alcoholic Beverages, 5%
POS, 5%

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Food Preparation and Restaurant Industry
Bartender
Bartender vs Bartender Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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