What Does a Bartender Server Do?

Bartender servers are employees who work in the restaurant's bar area. They are responsible for assembling customers' drink orders and serving these to customers. They should be sound drink mixers and must be familiar with cocktail combinations and other mixes. They should also know the ingredients of the restaurant's drinks and should be able to use alternatives should specific components be unavailable. Some bartender servers engage in flairtending, a way of mixing drinks that entertains the guests waiting for their drinks.

Take a few minutes to create or upgrade your resume. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Bartender Server resume.

Bartender Server Responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real bartender server resumes representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.

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.
communicate with culinary team regarding meal requirement.
Operate computerized cash register and affiliate POS system.
Experience in identifying allergies and assisting guest in making suitable substitutions.
Exercise communication skills and perfect customer satisfaction daily while performing other side work duties separate from serving and/or bartending.
Establish a positive relationship with co-workers and managers through a solid work ethic, positive attitude, punctuality and dependability.
Enforce and adhere to policies in accordance to TABC rules and regulations.
Enforce TABC laws and follow strict company policies that deal directly with the service of alcohol.
Date and store perishables; implement FIFO (first in, first out).
Cut, store and ensure product quality of all beverage-relate perishables

Bartender Server Job Description

When it comes to understanding what a bartender server does, you may be wondering, "should I become a bartender server?" The data included in this section may help you decide. Compared to other jobs, bartender servers have a growth rate described as "faster than average" at 8% between the years 2018 - 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, the number of bartender server opportunities that are predicted to open up by 2028 is 52,200.

Bartender servers average about $15.67 an hour, which makes the bartender server annual salary $32,591. Additionally, bartender servers are known to earn anywhere from $23,000 to $46,000 a year. This means that the top-earning bartender servers make $36,000 more than the lowest earning ones.

As is the case with most jobs, it takes work to become a bartender server. Sometimes people change their minds about their career after working in the profession. That's why we looked into some other professions that might help you find your next opportunity. These professions include a food runner, server and hostess, server/barista, and cook/server.

Learn More About Bartender Server Job Descriptions

Find Better Talent in Less Time

Post a Job on Zippia and take the best from over 7 million monthly job seekers.

Bartender Server Jobs You Might Like

12 Bartender Server Resume Examples

Build a professional bartender server resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 12+ resume templates to create your bartender server resume.


Judy Reynolds Bartender Server Contact Information Philadelphia, PA (500) 555-2993 jreynolds@example.com Skills Costco Guest Service Internet Daily Observations Legal AGE Positive Image Customer Service Seat Guests Repeat Business Guest Orders Employment History Bartender Server 2018 - Present TGI Friday's Philadelphia, PA Lead bartender, Supervisor Server Customer Service Cash handling Up selling and suggestive sales Provide quick and efficient food service to guests. Promoted and suggested new menu items and in-store products, encouraging adoption and converting sales. Worked as team player with other team members to ensure excellent customer service was provided at all times. Informed customers of daily specials and explained how various menu items were prepared, describing ingredients and cooking methods. Server 2012 - 2018 Ruby Tuesday Philadelphia, PA Assisted customer with item selection and order placement via excellent customer service mannerisms. Suggest selected beverage items to pair with menu choices. Promoter 2010 - 2012 Nordstrom Cedar Rapids, IA Maintained the sales floor in a clean and organized fashion. Display commitment to team through collaboration and positive, proactive communication. Trained and supervised new employees on company policies, protocols, and customer service procedures. Maintained and updated a clientele list as INC brand specialist and exceeded sales goals for 6 of 8 months. Education High School Diploma 2010 - 2010


Henry Harrison Bartender Server Contact Info San Antonio, TX (580) 555-5768 hharrison@example.com Skills Wine ListFood ServiceSquare FeetPOSBanquet FunctionsAudio VisualGuest ServiceHigh VolumeEvent OrderCustomer Service Employment History Bartender Server 2018 - Present Cracker Barrel San Antonio, TX Provide customer service to guests Train all new employees on company policies Prepared menu items and arranged food presentation on plates. Performed customer service while fulfilling orders * Maintained cleanliness of the restaurant Order Taking/ Money Handling/ Cleaning * Food Handling/ Stocking / Greeting guests * Customer Service/ Training New Employees Customer Service And Serving 2015 - 2018 Pizza Hut Chicago, IL Clean Dinning Area Provided Counter Customer Service to internal/external customers Preparation of Menu Items Maintained high standards of customer service during high-volume, fast-paced operations. Supervised and monitored new employees to insure they were using proper customer service, recording and calling in orders. Greet customers with friendly attitude and promote new menu items/changes Deliver correct orders to customers in a timely fashion Banquet Captain 2010 - 2015 Holiday Inn Express Saint Louis, MO Full time and part time employment, 25-40 hours per week Served as a waiter/host for large hotel banquet functions and weddings Collect payment from contacts for the banquet department and complete all necessary paperwork including the ringing of banquet checks. Exceed goals by providing excellent customer service to clients, while arranging weekly banquets, and party schedules. Education High School Diploma 2010 - 2010


Janet Price Bartender Server Tampa, FL (750) 555-4749 jprice@example.com Experience Bartender Server2020 - Present Taneko Japanese Tavern•Tampa, FL Help run food if needed. Memorize details of daily specials, seasonal menu items and options, as well as rotating craft beer options. Provided excellent customer service to the community. Cook/Bartender2019 - 2020 Sonic•Austin, TX Stocked food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage. Delivered pizzas, handled food preparation, handled cash transactions, provided service Provided positive customer service in a high pressure environment * Built professional relationships with managers and other co-workers Assist kitchen manager with inventory, making work schedules, and suggestions of new menu items. Assistant Manager/Server2014 - 2019 Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub•Boston, MA Noted for effective client communication, juggling multiple tasks and efficiency. Inform them of daily specials, answer customers questions of all products. Waited on tables by taking orders, serving food, explained menu items, etc. Skills Food PreparationCustomer ServiceSanitation StandardsVIPDrink OrdersRestaurant OperationsGenuine HospitalityCAFKitchen EquipmentCustomer Relations Education Bachelor's Degree Accounting2011 - 2014 Northeastern University•Boston, MA

Create My Resume

Build a professional resume in minutes using this template.

Bartender Server Skills and Personality Traits

We calculated that 15% of Bartender Servers are proficient in Bartending, POS, and Non-Alcoholic Beverages. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Customer-service skills, and Physical stamina.

We break down the percentage of Bartender Servers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

Bartending, 15%
Directed bartending operations, seamless beverage services, inventory management and customer service.
POS, 10%
Operated computerized cash register and affiliated POS system.
Non-Alcoholic Beverages, 9%
Assisted customers with food selections, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and ensured overall satisfaction with their dining experience.
Fine Dining, 7%
Developed fine dining service skills at an exclusive Italian influenced establishment.
Drink Orders, 5%
Maximize repeat business by providing exceptional customer service and ensuring accuracy within patrons' food and drink orders.
Customer Service, 5%
Cash Handling and Inventory Control Developed excellent customer service skills Up selling Developed lasting relationships with customers for repeat business

Choose From 10+ Customizable Bartender Server Resume templates

Build a professional Bartender Server resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Bartender Server resume.

"bartending," "pos," and "non-alcoholic beverages" aren't the only skills we found bartender servers list on their resumes. In fact, there's a whole list of bartender server responsibilities that we found, including:

Arguably the most important personality trait for a bartender server to have happens to be communication skills. An example from a resume said this about the skill, "bartenders must listen carefully to their customers’ orders, explain drink and food items, and make menu recommendations" Additionally, other resumes have pointed out that bartender servers can use communication skills to "mix drinks and stock and tend bar provide excellent customer service skills and communication skills"

Another trait important for fulfilling bartender server duties is customer-service skills. According to a bartender server resume, "bartenders must have good customer-service skills to ensure repeat business." Here's an example of how bartender servers are able to utilize customer-service skills: "be professional, have great customer service, handle money, serve and mix drinks, serve food, and clean. "

Physical stamina is also an important skill for bartender servers to have. This example of how bartender servers use this skill comes from a bartender server resume, "bartenders spend hours on their feet walking and standing while preparing drinks and serving customers." Read this excerpt from a resume to understand how vital it is to their everyday roles and responsibilities, "serve drinks, serve snacks in pubs, physical stamina , hospitality skills, great personality"

In order for certain bartender server responsibilities to be completed, the job requires the skill "physical strength." According to a bartender server resume, "bartenders should be able to lift and carry heavy cases of liquor, beer, and other bar supplies—cases that often weigh up to 50 pounds." As an example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies: "gained experience working in a fine dining restaurant and built strength in communicating with my co-workers as well as customers. "

See the full list of bartender server skills.

Before becoming a bartender server, 44.4% earned their bachelor's degree. When it comes down to graduating with a master's degree, 2.1% bartender servers went for the extra education. If you're wanting to pursue this career, it may be possible to be successful with a high school degree. In fact, some bartender servers have a college degree. But about one out of every five bartender servers didn't attend college at all.

Those bartender servers who do attend college, typically earn either business degrees or psychology degrees. Less commonly earned degrees for bartender servers include general studies degrees or communication degrees.

Once you've obtained the level of education you're comfortable with, you might start applying to companies to become a bartender server. We've found that most bartender server resumes include experience from Marriott International, Troon, and Chief of staff. Of recent, Marriott International had 24 positions open for bartender servers. Meanwhile, there are 14 job openings at Troon and 12 at Chief of staff.

But if you're interested in companies where you might earn a high salary, bartender servers tend to earn the biggest salaries at Earth Fare, Taylor, and V-Soft Consulting. Take Earth Fare for example. The median bartender server salary is $44,073. At Taylor, bartender servers earn an average of $43,229, while the average at V-Soft Consulting is $43,199. You should take into consideration how difficult it might be to secure a job with one of these companies.

View more details on bartender server salaries across the United States.

We also looked into companies who hire bartender servers from the top 100 educational institutions in the U.S. The top three companies that hire the most from these institutions include Darden Restaurants, Applebee's Canada, and Buffalo Wild Wings.

The three companies that hire the most prestigious bartender servers are:

Marriott International24 Bartender Servers Jobs
Troon14 Bartender Servers Jobs
Chief of staff12 Bartender Servers Jobs

Build a professional resume in minutes.

Our AI resume builder helps you write a compelling and relevant resume for the jobs you want. See 10+ resume templates and create your resume here.

Don't Have A Professional Resume?

What Food Runners Do

Food Runners are responsible for assisting waitstaff on serving customers at a restaurant or similar establishment. Among their duties include maintaining cleanliness in particular areas, setting tables, refilling drinks, assisting customers with everything that they need, and coordinating with the workforce in and out of the kitchen. Furthermore, Food Runners need to ensure that all deliveries are accurate according to what is ordered by a customer. It is essential to stay presentable and helpful at all times as the main priority is customer satisfaction.

In this section, we compare the average bartender server annual salary with that of a food runner. Typically, food runners earn a $7,055 lower salary than bartender servers earn annually.

Even though bartender servers and food runners have vast differences in their careers, a few of the skills required to do both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require bartending, pos, and fine dining in the day-to-day roles.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. A bartender server responsibility is more likely to require skills like "non-alcoholic beverages," "new servers," "beverage service," and "serving drinks." Whereas a food runner requires skills like "cleanliness," "wine," "culinary," and "food handling." Just by understanding these different skills you can see how different these careers are.

Food runners really shine in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $26,747. Whereas bartender servers tend to make the most money in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $30,927.

The education levels that food runners earn is a bit different than that of bartender servers. In particular, food runners are 0.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a bartender server. Additionally, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What Are The Duties Of a Server And Hostess?

A server and hostess is an employee who plays the dual role of both a hostess and a server. As implied by this, a server and hostess is in-charge of welcoming guests as they enter the restaurant, ensuring that the guests' tables are ready before leading them to their assigned tables, handing over the menu, and waiting for the guests to finalize their order. Once the guests are ready to order, the server and hostess takes on the server role by bringing the guests' order to the kitchen, waiting for the food to be ready, and bringing the food to the guests' table.

The next role we're going to look at is the server and hostess profession. Typically, this position earns a lower pay. In fact, they earn a $4,571 lower salary than bartender servers per year.

While the salary may be different for these job positions, there is one similarity and that's a few of the skills needed to perform certain duties. We used info from lots of resumes to find that both bartender servers and server and hostesses are known to have skills such as "bartending," "pos," and "fine dining. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences that are worth noting. For example, bartender server responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "non-alcoholic beverages," "beverage service," "serving drinks," and "excellent guest." Meanwhile, a server and hostess might be skilled in areas such as "seat guests," "bus tables," "clean tables," and "customer satisfaction." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Server and hostesses may earn a lower salary than bartender servers, but server and hostesses earn the most pay in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $26,585. On the other side of things, bartender servers receive higher paychecks in the hospitality industry where they earn an average of $30,927.

On the topic of education, server and hostesses earn similar levels of education than bartender servers. In general, they're 0.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

How a Server/Barista Compares

A server/barista is someone who makes and serves beverages and foods, such as coffee, tea, and sandwiches or baked goods. He/She or she should be able to explain menu items to customers to ensure customer satisfaction. Other responsibilities include knowing food and beverage quality controls and updating displays to attract customers. The core skills that a server/barista should possess include excellent listening and communication skills and the ability to cope up with a physically demanding work environment. A candidate with a high school diploma or equivalent could qualify for the position.

Let's now take a look at the server/barista profession. On average, these workers make lower salaries than bartender servers with a $1,842 difference per year.

By looking over several bartender servers and server/baristas resumes, we found that both roles utilize similar skills, such as "bartending," "pos," and "fine dining." But beyond that the careers look very different.

As mentioned, these two careers differ between other skills that are required for performing the work exceedingly well. For example, gathering from bartender servers resumes, they are more likely to have skills like "non-alcoholic beverages," "new servers," "beverage service," and "excellent guest." But a server/barista might have skills like "cleanliness," "wine," "multitasking," and "presentation standards."

When it comes to education, server/baristas tend to earn similar education levels than bartender servers. In fact, they're 0.2% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Description Of a Cook/Server

Cooks/servers are employees who take on the dual role of being a cook and a server in the restaurant. They are usually trained cooks who are in charge of preparing meals for the guests. They prepare ingredients, cook them according to the recipe, and serve them to guests. They are responsible for ensuring that the food is prepared and served to guests within the promised time. They are in charge of managing the pantry, ensuring that the stock is fresh, and checking whether the stock is low. They are expected to have culinary skills, precision, and time management skills.

Now, we'll look at cook/servers, who generally average a lower pay when compared to bartender servers annual salary. In fact, the difference is about $2,875 per year.

While both bartender servers and cook/servers complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like pos, drink orders, and customer service, the two careers also vary in other skills.

Each job requires different skills like "bartending," "non-alcoholic beverages," "fine dining," and "beverage orders," which might show up on a bartender server resume. Whereas cook/server might include skills like "safety standards," "kitchen equipment," "fryers," and "mathematics."

Now, let's take a closer look at the financials in each career. The retail industry tends to pay more for cook/servers with an average of $29,014. While the highest bartender server annual salary comes from the hospitality industry.

In general, cook/servers reach similar levels of education when compared to bartender servers resumes. Cook/servers are 1.4% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Updated October 2, 2020