Bartenders Career, Salary and Skills
Bartenders have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $34,340 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 756,390. Wage data is published for 445 locations.
Occupation description
Mix and serve drinks to patrons, directly or through waitstaff.
O*NET code
35-3011.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$34,340
Hourly median
$16.51
Employment
756,390
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$20,110
10th
$27,400
25th
$34,340
Median
$47,570
75th
$73,770
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.75 | 3.12 |
| Service Orientation | 3.62 | 3.12 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.12 | 2.88 |
| Speaking | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Coordination | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Persuasion | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Monitoring | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Active Learning | 3.00 | 3.00 |
Typical tasks
- Order or requisition liquors and supplies.
- Plan bar menus.
- Arrange bottles and glasses to make attractive displays.
- Create drink recipes.
- Clean glasses, utensils, and bar equipment.
- Collect money for drinks served.
- Balance cash receipts.
- Supervise the work of bar staff and other bartenders.
Technology
- AZZ CardFile
- Compris software
- Focus point of sale POS software
- Intuit QuickBooks Point of Sale
- MICROS Systems HSI Profits Series
- Microsoft Outlook
- NCR Advanced Checkout Solution
- NCR NeighborhoodPOS
- The General Store
- Web browser software
Bartenders salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Bartenders Salary in CAMedian $36,220 · Employment 71,470
- Bartenders Salary in TXMedian $22,690 · Employment 59,000
- Bartenders Salary in FLMedian $35,150 · Employment 55,170
- Bartenders Salary in NYMedian $61,210 · Employment 43,130
- Bartenders Salary in ILMedian $31,200 · Employment 43,010
- Bartenders Salary in New York, NYMedian $61,220 · Employment 38,510
- Bartenders Salary in PAMedian $28,420 · Employment 37,490
- Bartenders Salary in WIMedian $23,460 · Employment 29,520
- Bartenders Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $31,200 · Employment 28,750
- Bartenders Salary in OHMedian $30,880 · Employment 27,420
- Bartenders Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $35,510 · Employment 25,260
- Bartenders Salary in MNMedian $26,900 · Employment 24,420
Related careers
- DishwashersNational median $34,810
- BakersNational median $37,160
- Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related WorkersNational median $41,380
- Cooks, Fast FoodNational median $30,890
- Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNational median $35,510
- Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room AttendantsNational median $36,300
- Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNational median $37,450
- Cooks, Private HouseholdNational median $47,940
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.