Careers · Explore one path
Bartenders
Mix and serve drinks to patrons, directly or through waitstaff.
Other titles employers use
Banquet Bartender · Bar Captain · Bartender · Mixologist · Barkeep · Drink Mixer · Taproom Attendant
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Clean glasses, utensils, and bar equipment.
- Collect money for drinks served.
- Balance cash receipts.
- Check identification of customers to verify age requirements for purchase of alcohol.
- Clean bars, work areas, and tables.
- Attempt to limit problems and liability related to customers' excessive drinking by taking steps such as persuading customers to stop drinking, or ordering taxis or other transportation for intoxicated patrons.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical, organizing and persuading work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Service Orientation
- Social Perceptiveness
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Coordination
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Sales and Marketing
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Information Ordering
- Near Vision
- Speech Recognition
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.1 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 4.6 | Standing or moving for most of it |
| Talking face to face | 4.2 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 3.7 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Most employers do not ask for a formal credential. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 80%
- A certificate or some college 19%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Web page creation and editing software
- Electronic mail software
- Point of sale POS software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Internet browser software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 85,000
- Job openings each year
- 14,680
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 13.2%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 85,000 | 14,680 | 13.2% |
| Texas | 54,620 | 9,450 | 17.2% |
| Florida | 49,620 | 8,570 | 13.6% |
| Illinois | 31,710 | 5,440 | 4.2% |
| New York | 31,530 | 530 | 20.0% |
| Wisconsin | 28,830 | 4,970 | 9.9% |
| Pennsylvania | 25,600 | 4,380 | 1.7% |
| Ohio | 22,700 | 3,880 | — |
| Colorado | 22,440 | 3,870 | 11.6% |
| Minnesota | 20,980 | 3,600 | 5.9% |
| North Carolina | 19,030 | 3,290 | 18.0% |
| Washington | 17,960 | 3,460 | 20.7% |
| Missouri | 17,510 | 3,010 | 6.5% |
| New Jersey | 17,210 | 2,960 | 7.6% |
| Michigan | 17,180 | 2,940 | 1.6% |
| Nevada | 16,770 | 2,890 | 12.6% |
| Georgia | 16,450 | 2,850 | 17.5% |
| Arizona | 15,260 | 2,640 | 14.4% |
| Maryland | 13,330 | 2,290 | 7.9% |
| Indiana | 12,940 | 2,220 | 6.0% |
| Tennessee | 12,700 | 2,200 | 21.2% |
| Virginia | 10,470 | 1,790 | 2.9% |
| Iowa | 10,060 | 1,730 | 4.8% |
| Louisiana | 9,600 | 1,650 | 4.3% |
| South Carolina | 9,600 | 1,660 | 12.9% |
| Oregon | 9,460 | 1,640 | 19.7% |
| Connecticut | 8,570 | 1,480 | 17.7% |
| Nebraska | 7,850 | 1,350 | 8.9% |
| Oklahoma | 7,800 | 1,340 | 9.7% |
| Massachusetts | 7,270 | 1,250 | 10.3% |
| Montana | 7,250 | 1,250 | 15.3% |
| Kentucky | 6,380 | 1,100 | 8.5% |
| Kansas | 5,810 | 1,000 | 7.4% |
| Utah | 4,780 | 830 | 28.2% |
| Alabama | 4,430 | 760 | 13.0% |
| District of Columbia | 4,370 | 760 | 26.3% |
| North Dakota | 4,250 | 730 | 6.0% |
| Mississippi | 3,940 | 680 | 5.9% |
| South Dakota | 3,910 | 670 | 12.0% |
| Idaho | 3,770 | 650 | 14.2% |
| New Hampshire | 3,640 | 630 | 9.3% |
| New Mexico | 3,540 | 620 | 27.8% |
| Delaware | 3,380 | 590 | 13.4% |
| Maine | 3,100 | 530 | −1.3% |
| Wyoming | 2,790 | 480 | 13.9% |
| Arkansas | 2,690 | 460 | 9.3% |
| West Virginia | 2,660 | 450 | 2.3% |
| Rhode Island | 2,450 | 420 | 7.5% |
| Vermont | 1,950 | 340 | 15.4% |
| Puerto Rico | 1,900 | 330 | 12.4% |
| Alaska | 1,720 | 300 | 6.8% |
| Virgin Islands | 400 | 70 | 8.1% |
| Guam | 360 | 60 | 33.3% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Johnson & Wales University-Providence
- Degrees each year
- 168
- Admit rate
- 84%
- Annual cost after aid
- $28,000
SUNY College of Technology at Delhi
- Degrees each year
- 22
- Admit rate
- 88%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000
Drexel University
- Degrees each year
- 10
- Admit rate
- 78%
- Annual cost after aid
- $35,000
College of the Ozarks
- Degrees each year
- 4
- Admit rate
- 15%
- Annual cost after aid
- $5,000
Texas Woman's University
- Degrees each year
- 3
- Admit rate
- 95%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Central Washington University
- Degrees each year
- 3
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
Dominican University
- Degrees each year
- 1
- Admit rate
- 80%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
Southern New Hampshire University
- Degrees each year
- 1
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $37,000
Compare every college offering culinary arts and related services