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.
Bartender responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real bartender resumes:
- 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.
- Mix and serve drinks, check ids, handle cash and other forms of payments and customer service
- Post drinks or food orders in micros system efficiently and quickly to guarantee guest is given an accurate bill
- Attend guests at both main bars, and wine bar, verifying they are legally able to purchase and drink alcohol.
- Direct bartending operations, including beverage service, inventory management, and customer relations.
- Provide excellent customer service in fast-pace work environment as well as maintaining overall cleanliness of the restaurant.
- Maintain and enforce ABC laws.
- Check ids of guests to verify age requirements for alcohol purchase.
- Place and receive orders with ABC, beer and food distributors.
- Ensure safety inside the pub through checking identification and providing crowd control.
Bartender skills and personality traits
We calculated that 23% of Bartenders are proficient in Wine, Bartending, and Exceptional Guest. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Customer-service skills, and Physical stamina.
We break down the percentage of Bartenders that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Wine, 23%
Maintain cleanliness and supply of the bar, including glassware, preparing garnishes, restocking beer, wine and liquor.
- Bartending, 10%
Hired as opening staff for craft cocktail bartending, responsible for inventory/deep-cleaning/bar menu modifications.
- Exceptional Guest, 7%
Created exceptional guest experiences, efficiently served customers, engaged in constant socialization with patrons, and generated regular clientele
- Cleanliness, 6%
Hired and trained new employees in reservation management, facility cleanliness, and bookkeeping supporting daily routine operations.
- Non-Alcoholic Beverages, 5%
Prepared alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages at service station for entire restaurant while simultaneously responsible for a full bar of customers.
- Cash Handling, 4%
Cash handling, customer service, drink preparation and service responsibilities in addition to document verification and counterfeit prevention procedures.
Common skills that a bartender uses to do their job include "wine," "bartending," and "exceptional guest." You can find details on the most important bartender responsibilities below.
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a bartender to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what bartenders do because "bartenders must listen carefully to their customers’ orders, explain drink and food items, and make menu recommendations." Additionally, a bartender resume shows how bartenders use communication skills: "trained to operate and repair the (fdc) fire direction control computer system and field satellite communications. "
Customer-service skills. Many bartender duties rely on customer-service skills. "by creating a friendly and welcoming environment, bartenders help to ensure repeat business.," so a bartender will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways bartender responsibilities rely on customer-service skills: "take accurate orders in a fast-paced environment, mix drinks, serve food, and ensure guests leave happy and satisfied. "
Physical stamina. bartenders are also known for physical stamina, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to bartender responsibilities, because "bartenders spend hours walking or standing while preparing drinks and serving customers." A bartender resume example shows how physical stamina is used in the workplace: "have physical stamina to lift moderate amounts of weight such as beer kegs. "
Physical strength. bartender responsibilities often require "physical strength." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "bartenders should be able to lift and carry cases of liquor, beer, and other bar supplies that may weigh up to 50 pounds." This resume example shows what bartenders do with physical strength on a typical day: "maintained financial records for shifts, establishing and strengthening rapport with customers, upselling products and maintaining cleanliness to industry"
The three companies that hire the most bartenders are:
- Red Lobster1,377 bartenders jobs
- Darden Restaurants1,272 bartenders jobs
- Brinker International1,171 bartenders jobs
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Compare different bartenders
Bartender vs. Mixologist
A beverage server specializes in mixing and preparing drinks, serving them to customers courteously. Their responsibilities also include greeting the customers, taking orders, answering inquiries, offering recommendations when necessary, and checking the customers' identification to confirm their ages. They may also provide assistance to managers by monitoring beverage inventories, receiving and unloading deliveries, organizing supplies and equipment, and maintaining the cleanliness of work areas. Moreover, as a beverage server, it is essential to have a clear communication line with co-workers for smooth work operations.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between bartenders and mixologist. For instance, bartender responsibilities require skills such as "non-alcoholic drinks," "food handling," "food service," and "beverage service." Whereas a mixologist is skilled in "fresh fruit," "credit card payments," "quality service," and "cocktail menu." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Mixologists tend to reach similar levels of education than bartenders. In fact, mixologists are 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Bartender vs. Beverage server
A bar back performs various support tasks in restaurants and other dining establishments. They may assist bartenders and other staff by taking orders, serving drinks, monitoring inventories, re-stocking supplies, discarding the trash, and maintaining the cleanliness of different areas. They may also participate in opening and closing the establishment, replenishing items such as napkins and garnishes, conducting regular maintenance checks, and performing basic maintenance repairs as necessary. Moreover, as a bar back, it is essential to maintain an open communication line with co-workers, coordinating to maintain an efficient workflow.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real bartender resumes. While bartender responsibilities can utilize skills like "non-alcoholic drinks," "food handling," "food service," and "beverage service," beverage servers use skills like "guest service," "professional appearance," "bartenders," and "casino guests."
Beverage servers earn similar levels of education than bartenders in general. They're 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Bartender vs. Bar back
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a bartender is likely to be skilled in "exceptional guest," "non-alcoholic beverages," "cash handling," and "non-alcoholic drinks," while a typical bar back is skilled in "bar-back," "taps," "fresh fruit," and "basic math."
Bar backs earn the best pay in the finance industry, where they command an average salary of $28,255. Bartenders earn the highest pay from the hospitality industry, with an average salary of $26,589.Most bar backs achieve a similar degree level compared to bartenders. For example, they're 1.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Bartender vs. Caterer/server
Types of bartender
Updated January 8, 2025
