Saturday, January 12, 2013

What Is The Salary Of A Bartender?

By Craig Seymour


Probably the biggest reason most people decide to get into bartending in the first place, is because most of us probably know of someone who rarely talks about their hourly wage as opposed to the amount of tips they made last night. When we think of a bartenders salary, wage, or income, most of us usually skip the boring stuff and think TIPS!

So how much do bartenders really make? Though a bartenders income will really vary depending on many factors, it is safe to say that typically, most bartenders earn a low hourly wage of $6-10 per hour, plus tips. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the mean hourly wage for bartenders was $8.98 in May of 2010. The Bureau also states that 'Employment of bartenders is expected to grow 9 percent from 2010 to 2020... Strong competition is expected for bartending jobs in popular restaurants and fine-dining establishments, where potential earnings from tips are greatest.' (BLS) Lets dive a little deeper to see what determines a bartenders income:

Just as the BLS stated above, obtaining that bartending job in a major city is and will continue to be highly competitive. You beginners won't have to chose, luckily. While you build your work experience, You'll most likely be starting at Chili's. Deciding if you're going to work at the High-end steakhouse downtown or the Chili's down the street or the will have big effects on your monthly income.

It's simple, the more people like you, the more customers inclined to tip! Put yourself in your comfort zone and allow your confidence to shine if you like sports. Check out the hotels downtown, if your the quiet sophisticated type. Those with people skills, natural bartending talent and customer service skills, will earn more tips, and outshine the rest of the competition, which equates to a bigger salary. This is why so many books and guides are written solely based on social skills and earning bigger tips.

This one may be obvious: your pockets will get bigger the more you work. If and when you get a full time job, expect to work late evenings, weekends, and yes, holidays. Not as enticing as it sounds?

Keeping these factors in mind will help you on your road to success as a bartender. It may not be fast, but with hard work, you can eventually get that bartenders salary you often hear others talk about. With some experience under your belt, you will easily move up the ranks and get into the bigger more lucrative establishments!




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