Bartenders mix and serve alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages following standard recipes or customers' requests.  They work in bars, restaurants, hotels, and private clubs.

JOB DUTIES

Bartenders may:

Clean glasses and other utensils

Clean ice tanks, coolers, and other bar equipment

Mix ingredients such as liquor, soda, sugar, bitters or fruit juice

Serve wine and draught or bottled beer

Receive orders directly from patrons or wait staff

Collect money for drinks served

Order liquors and other bar supplies

Place bottled goods and glasses to make an attractive display

Slice and pit fruit for garnishing drinks

Prepare appetizers such as pickles, cheese, and cold meats

Sell unopened bottles for carry out, when licensed

Refuse to serve intoxicated customers or underage persons

Replace beer tanks and soft drink tanks as they are emptied

Re-connect the pressure regulator

Serve snacks to customers seated at the bar

Click  here  to see a Bartender at work.

The tools, equipment, and materials used may include:

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

Bartenders may specialize in these areas:

312.474-010 BARTENDERS mix and serve alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages to patrons in bars, restaurants, hotels, or private clubs.

312.477-010 BAR ATTENDANTS sell and serve alcoholic beverages to patrons in neighborhood taverns or combination bar and package-goods stores. They serve drinks to be consumed in the bar or tavern and sell unopened bottles of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to be taken out.

312.677-010 TAPROOM ATTENDANTS fill glasses with beer drawn from a tap and hand them to customers or to another worker who serves them.

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following Career Exploration Scripts:

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Most Bartenders work under the supervision of a manager or owner. They work indoors in hotels, restaurants, or bars. Noise may be a factor in some bars because of loud music or loud conversation, and lighting may be poor.

Vacation resorts offer seasonal employment, and some Bartenders alternate between summer and winter resorts rather than remain in one area year-round.

Bartenders often work less than 40 hours per week.  The nature of their work may require Bartenders to work during the night and weekend shifts. Bartenders usually work indoors at taverns, bars, restaurants and hotels. Some Bartenders may have to work split shifts. Many Bartenders employed in large businesses belong to The Hotel, Motel Restaurant Employees, Cooks, and Bartenders Union. Workers who belong to a union pay periodic membership dues.

You Should Prefer:

• Activities involving business contact with people

• Activities of a routine, concrete, organized nature

You Should Be Able To:

• Show knowledge of laws governing the purchase of alcoholic beverages

• Show knowledge of laws governing the sale of alcoholic beverages

• Make decisions based on measurable information

• Follow specific instructions and memorize recipes for drinks

• Repeat tasks of short duration according to a routine sequence

• Coordinate the use of your eyes, hands or fingers to perform a task

• Total bills and make change quickly and accurately

• Remain even tempered and work well with all types of people

• Maintain a neat and clean personal appearance

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

How many ounces are in 24 ml?

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

Recipes for mixed drinks, for example,

Red Wine Cooler

tsp. sugar syrup

1 oz. orange juice

red wine to 3/4 full

top with soda water

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

Prepare an order form for a supply of liquor and other mixed drink ingredients.

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

Should be detail oriented in taking orders and creating mixed drinks.

Generally Bartenders must be at least 21 years of age. Some employers prefer those who are 25 or older. In many areas of the state they must have health certificates. In some areas, Bartenders must be licensed and, in some cases, bonded.

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EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES

NOTE: On-The-Job Training provided by the employer or a Certificate (program of up to one year of study beyond high school) may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in the Career Exploration Script:

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1500 FOODS & NUTRITION , 2200 MATH , 3300 TECHNOLOGY

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

There are no Vocational Education Programs related to this Career Exploration Script

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

Programs in Food and Beverage Service provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills needed for employment ordering, preparing, or serving different kinds of food and beverage. Training is available for cooking, baking, meat cutting, bartending, catering, quantity food preparation, and food service management. Individuals who teach Food and Beverage Service at the secondary school level must have a Michigan Teaching Certificate.

Courses vary with the area of interest but may include:

221 BARTENDER TRAINING

Programs in Bartender Training, sometimes called mixology, are designed to provide individuals to mix and serve alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to patrons of bars and other commercial establishments. Programs include instruction in standard recipes, cleanliness, and safety standards, legal requirements of alcoholic beverage service and customer relations.  

Search for a College and/or Instructional Program    

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Apprenticeships related to this Career Exploration Script.

***MILITARY TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Military Programs related to this Career Exploration Script 

E-Learning Courses and Programs   

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY

There are several ways to explore this occupation including seasonal work at resort areas and part-time work available in many bars and restaurants. Experience can also be gained by working as a Bartender helper, dining room attendant, and waitress or waiter, in bars, restaurants, and clubs. Postsecondary programs in food and beverage service may offer a co-op or work experience segment through which experiences may be gained.

School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships

mentorships

job shadowing experiences

touring a local Bartender employer

internships volunteer work with a Bartender employer

community service work with an agency

Persons interested in being Bartenders should contact local unions, consult newspaper want ads, or apply directly to employers. Smaller establishments are more likely to hire inexperienced persons. In addition, private vocational schools that offer courses in bartending help place graduates in jobs. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:

You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.

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EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

Wages of Bartenders vary widely according to experience, employer, business location, and union affiliation.

Employers may pay Bartenders an hourly rate that is below minimum wage if tips make up the difference. Employers may also make deductions for meals and lodging. However, total deductions for meals, lodging, and tips may not exceed 50% of the minimum wage nationally or 25% of the minimum wage in Michigan. The federal minimum wage is $5.15 per hour while the minimum wage rate for the State of Michigan is $6.95 per hour in late 2006.

Nationally, the median weekly earnings of Bartenders were about $420 or $10.50 per hour in 2005. The median weekly earnings of "all" workers in the U.S. were $651 in 2005.

In 2006, unionized Bartenders employed in one Detroit area hotel earned a minimum hourly wage rate between $10.18 and $11.68 per hour.  Bartenders who worked in the banquet hall earned a minimum hourly wage rate of $10.13 per hour.

In late 2006, Non-Commissioned Bartenders employed in the Sports and Entertainment Industry earned between $6.95 (new hire) and $5.20 per hour (not including tips).  Depending on the type of event, Catering Service Bartenders earned between $6.95 (new hire) and $15.00 per hour.  In late 2006, Bartenders employed in the Casino and Gaming Industry earned:

Many unionized Bartenders working in private clubs in the Detroit area in late 2006 earned between $11.91 (new hire) and $12.67 (experienced) an hour. In addition to their regular earnings, some Bartenders receive tips that may total as much as several hundred dollars a week, but most of them receive less.  

Many Bartenders, especially union members, receive insurance plans, paid vacations and holidays, and retirement plans. Bartenders may also receive free or reduced charge meals while at work and may receive a uniform allowance.

Advancement is limited, but with experience a Bartender might advance to become head Bartender or club manager, and may eventually purchase a partnership or own the business.

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EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

Nationally, about 474,400 Bartenders were employed in 2004. Employment of Bartenders is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2014. About 1.4% of them were self-employed. The industry distribution for Bartenders looked like this:

In recent years the employment for Bartenders has been affected by demographic shifts, changing purchase preferences, and concern about health and nutrition. This has resulted in reduced consumption of alcoholic beverages. Most openings will arise from the need to replace workers who leave this occupation each year as Bartenders retire, die, or transfer to other lines of work.

There are approximately 17,525 Bartenders employed in Michigan. Most Bartenders worked in or near metropolitan areas or large cities. Most worked in restaurants and bars. Bartenders also worked in Hotels and motels, private clubs, and places of entertainment.  

Employment of Bartenders in Michigan is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2012.  An average of 810 openings is anticipated annually, with 120 due to growth and 690 due to replacement of workers who retire, die, or leave the labor force for other reasons.  Additional openings will occur as workers transfer for other jobs or occupations.

A trend in large bars to install automatic drink measuring and dispensing units may have reduced the need for inexperienced Bartenders. In addition, patrons' preference for wine or non-alcoholic beverages has reduced employment opportunities for bartenders. However, since many Bartenders are students or other people who do not plan careers in this occupation, job turnover is relatively high.

MICHIGAN'S EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2012

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Printed Occupational information is available upon written request from sources below.

        Copyright © 2007 Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth