Bartender vs head bartender

The differences between bartenders and head bartenders 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 head bartender. Additionally, a head bartender has an average salary of $89,366, 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 head bartender are customer service, wine, and bartending.

Bartender vs head bartender overview

	Bartender	Head Bartender
Yearly salary	$26,362	$89,366
Hourly rate	$12.67	$42.96
Growth rate	18%	18%
Number of jobs	57,518	34,561
Job satisfaction	4.67	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 50%
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 head bartender do?

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.

Bartender vs head bartender salary

Bartenders and head bartenders have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Bartender	Head Bartender
Average salary	$26,362	$89,366
Salary range	Between $16,000 And $43,000	Between $47,000 And $168,000
Highest paying City	Seattle, WA	-
Highest paying state	Hawaii	-
Best paying company	OTTO	-
Best paying industry	Hospitality	-

Differences between bartender and head bartender education

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

	Bartender	Head Bartender
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Bartender vs head bartender demographics

Here are the differences between bartenders' and head bartenders' demographics:

	Bartender	Head Bartender
Average age	34	34
Gender ratio	Male, 39.7% Female, 60.3%	Male, 49.5% Female, 50.5%
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, 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	8%	8%

Differences between bartender and head bartender 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.

Head bartender example responsibilities.

Direct bartending operations and manage inventory for the bar area.
Manage payroll and timekeeping including completion of proper paperwork for new hires and terminations.
Input data for POS systems, including monthly inventory, and maintaining all POS systems.
Certify trainer, responsible for weekly bar inventory for restaurant purchases, highly focuse on upselling.
Handle all POS operations, including starting tabs, handling cash, closing the drawer, and accounting for all transactions.
Boost revenue significantly by upselling signature drinks.

Bartender vs head bartender skills

Common bartender skills

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

Common head bartender skills

Customer Service, 19%
Wine, 18%
Bartending, 10%
Non-Alcoholic Beverages, 6%
Craft Beer, 6%
POS, 6%

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Food Preparation and Restaurant Industry
Bartender
Bartender vs Head Bartender

Updated January 8, 2025

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