Bartender: Salary, Duties, Outlook and Requirements A
bartender's job consists of preparing and serving alcoholic or
non-alcoholic beverages to customers in bars, restaurants,
nightclubs and other establishments and venues. Bartenders are
responsible for collecting payment, ordering inventory and
keeping their bar area clean for customers who want to drink and
dine. Salary for a Bartender According to the U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics (BLS), salaries for bartenders vary, and much
of their earnings can come from tips. Average annual salaries,
including tips, were approximately $20,970 in May 2009
(www.bls.gov). The top-paying employers for bartending in that
year were elderly community care facilities, museums and
historical sites, colleges and universities, hotels and special
food service events. A bartender prepares, pours and usually
serves a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to
customers at public establishments or venues licensed to serve
alcohol; bartenders may also work in private settings