How Much Does a Bartender Makes?

How much does a bartender makes yearly and hourly? Helpful data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that the median hourly wage for bartenders is $12.67, and the typical annual wage for bartenders was $26,350. However, the highest earners make $22.93 an hour; equating to approximately $47,690 annually. The term “median pay” refers to the salary at which half of workers in a profession received more money, while the other half earned less. The salary of a bartender can vary greatly depending on the employer, the type of establishment where they work, the bartender’s level of expertise and skill, and so on.

An additional thing to keep in mind besides location and experience, a bartender’s compensation is comprised mainly of two components, namely wages and tips. It is not difficult to estimate and learn about wages. But the amount of tips you should expect to receive will be highly variable depending not only on where you’re from but also on a variety of other things. Therefore, it is difficult to estimate or determine how much money a bartender actually makes.

The amount of money a bartender makes depends on a number of criteria, such as their level of expertise, the location of their employer, and the number of customers they serve. In the state of California, for instance, the typical annual wage for a bartender in the year 2021 is approximately $30,400. In the year 2021, the annual pay of an ordinary worker in Illinois will be close to $27,000. The cost of living can also have an effect on a person’s salary.

Here are some more high salaries for bartenders in some higher-populated cities: Washington, District of Columbia ($48,000), Washington state ($39,000), Arizona ($38,000), and New York, New York ($37,700). The typical annual income for a bartender in New York City is $32,000, plus an additional $200 in tips per shift worked. In recent years, the metropolitan area surrounding New York City has had substantial job growth, oftentimes at a faster rate versus the national average. Because of the enormous number of seasonal tourists that visit, the demand at many pubs is unpredictable throughout the year.

Requirements

Although formal schooling credentials are not normally required to become a bartender, some businesses demand or prefer that candidates have a high school graduation in order to be considered for the position. In most cases, they receive their training, which normally lasts for a few weeks and is performed on the job. Experience in other vocations or occupations can be beneficial for certain bartenders.

In the majority of states, employees who serve alcoholic beverages are required to have reached the age of 18 years old. Bartenders are expected to be knowledgeable with the state and local regulations that govern the sale of alcoholic beverages.

Bartender Job Duties

Customers can place their drink orders with bartenders directly at the bar or with waiters and waitresses who are serving the dining area of the establishment. Bartenders are required to have extensive knowledge of a variety of cocktail recipes and the ability to create drinks rapidly. When they are measuring and pouring beverages, they have to be careful not to spill or overfill the container. They should be pleasant with clients at the bar and also be able to work well with waiters and waitresses as well as personnel in the kitchen to ensure that service is provided in a timely manner.

In addition to preparing and serving drinks, bartenders are responsible for maintaining ice, glasses, and other bar supplies, as well as stocking and preparing garnishes for beverages. In addition to this, they clean the glasses and cutlery used by customers and provide meals to patrons who eat at the bar. The responsibility of stocking and maintaining an inventory of liquor, mixers, and other bar supplies typically falls on the shoulders of the bartenders.

Customers can choose to pay for their drinks as they are served, or bartenders can start a tab for them and collect payment when they close it at the end of the night. In addition to this, they are responsible for monitoring clients for signs of intoxication, determining when it is appropriate to refuse service, and, in some instances, making arrangements for safe transportation. Some additional duties of the bartender:

• Customers should be greeted, given menus, and updated on current specials.
• Take the food and drink orders from the customers.
• Pour and serve a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
• Prepare libations in accordance with their recipes.
• Verify the identification of the clients to confirm that they are of age to consume alcoholic beverages Clean the bars, tables, and work areas.
• Customers’ payments should be collected, and any change should be given back.
• Interact with your clients.
• Oversee the daily operations of the bar as well as the replenishment of the alcoholic beverages and bar supplies
• Maintain a close eye on the consumers’ levels of intoxication.

How a Bartender Can Earn More Tips?

When you work in an environment where tips are expected, it is normal for you to question how you may increase the amount of money you receive in tips. When all is said and done, this is your means of subsistence; hence, the more gratuities you are able to collect, the higher your overall bartending pay will be.

Unfortunately, there is no special recipe that may be used. Being the finest bartender you can be, working at the ideal establishment, and offering exceptional service to customers are the three most important factors in earning higher tips.

The following are some particular aspects that you ought to concentrate on:

• Know your drink products – It is important to have an in-depth understanding of all of the products, including cocktails, that you offer to customers so that you can up-sell and propose additional items as necessary.
• Smile, keep eye contact, tell tales, tell jokes, listen to your visitors’ stories, laugh at their jokes, and so on are all great ways to show that you are friendly.
• Pay close attention to the particulars, such as keeping in mind the kind of beverages that your visitors enjoy, preparing them according to THEIR preferences, keeping in mind the topics that they enjoy conversing about, using napkins and coasters, etc.
• Work quickly; the more people you can assist in a certain period of time, the more tips you’ll receive. Additionally, the longer your clients have to wait for a drink, the less likely they are to leave a tip for you.
• Bartenders who work at nightclubs, fine-dining restaurants, craft cocktail bars, and other similar businesses (essentially anywhere with a more affluent customer) will receive higher tips than those who work in less upscale bars and restaurants.
• Work more frequently: the more hours you put in, the more money you’ll bring in.

Bartender vs Mixologist

A bartender who is familiar with the formulas for a variety of well-known mixed beverages is known as a mixologist. Of course, there are the traditional cocktails like martinis and Manhattans, but there is also a wide variety of drinks that are classified as sours, highballs, tropical drinks, and shooters. A variety of fruits, liqueurs, creams, and mixers can be utilized to create one-of-a-kind takes on traditional cocktails. One such variation is the Apple Cider Martini, which is a seasonal favorite.

Mixologists have the option of teaching themselves hundreds of different cocktail recipes, attending bartending school, or learning the recipes online. You can also obtain apps for smart phones that can teach you how to mix a number of different alcoholic cocktails. However, you won’t have time to seek for recipes if you’re working at a crowded bar. You will be required to be able to prepare any kind of drink, so that you can quickly go on to serving the next patron.

Some bartenders take it upon themselves to create original cocktails for the places in which they work. It is essential for bartenders to be current on the latest trends in the beverage industry. 2018 was a year in which customers frequently requested Long Island Iced Teas, White Russians, and Moscow Mules at local bars. It’s possible that the list of trendy drinks will change slightly from year to year. Drinks that are abruptly promoted by celebrities, appear on television, or appear in the movies can experience a surge in popularity.

Mixologists have the potential to earn a bigger income behind the bar due to the increased prices of the drinks they create. A cocktail can cost anywhere from $14 to $16 or more at some of the more premium restaurants and bars. Drinks at a hip bar in Chicago start at $18, while a drink at an upscale bar in Manhattan can cost as much as $23. When you factor in a 15 percent tip on a single drink, which may cost as much as a meal in some restaurants, it is simple to see how the hourly income of a bartender might balloon to an extremely high amount.