How to become a bartender

1. 1Check your state's minimum age to serve alcohol

   Sources 1, 3, 8

   BLS reports that most states let people serve alcohol at 18, but the age to tend bar can differ from the age to serve drinks at a table, and some states or employers set it at 21. Washington, for example, issues its MAST permit in two classes: Class 13 for ages 18 to 20 and Class 12 for those 21 and older. Look up your state's alcohol control board before applying so you know what you can legally do.

2. 2Start as a barback, server or host

   Time: 1-12 monthsSources 1

   Most bars promote from within. As a barback you restock ice, bottles and glassware, change kegs and watch how experienced bartenders work a rush. As a server you learn the menu, the point-of-sale system and the regulars. Managers would rather train someone they have seen work a busy Friday than a stranger with a certificate, so this is usually the fastest path to good shifts.

3. 3Complete responsible alcohol service training

   Time: 3-5 hoursCost: About $38 for an online course; varies by stateSources 3, 4, 5

   Many states and localities require bartenders to finish an approved responsible-server course covering alcohol laws, ID checks, spotting intoxication and refusing service. In Washington, bartenders, servers and managers at on-premises licensees must get a MAST permit within 60 days of hire; the class runs at least three hours, ends with an exam and the permit lasts five years. Where no course is required, TIPS or ServSafe Alcohol certificates still help.

4. 4Learn drinks and bar systems on the job

   Time: A few weeksSources 1

   On-the-job training under an experienced bartender typically takes a few weeks. You learn the house recipes and pour sizes, how the bar is set up, the register and tab system, and how to handle rowdy guests. Learn the classic cocktails and the spirits on your bar's back shelf on your own time; quizzing yourself before a shift is how most bartenders build speed.

5. 5Build speed and move to higher-volume bars

   Time: 1-3 yearsSources 1, 2

   Pay depends heavily on tips, so the bar you work at matters. Once you can keep up during a rush, keep tabs straight and handle difficult guests, apply to busier restaurants, hotel bars, stadiums or cocktail bars. Some bartenders specialize in craft cocktails, wine or beer and take further courses; others aim for bar manager roles that handle inventory, scheduling and ordering.

Requirements differ by state. Check your state’s rules in the CareerOneStop License Finder (U.S. Department of Labor) before you enroll.

Speed with accuracy

During a rush you may juggle a dozen orders and open tabs at once, and every wrong pour or lost tab costs the bar money.

Reading people

You need to spot when a guest is getting intoxicated or a situation is turning tense and step in before it escalates.

Memory

You keep dozens of recipes, the house pour sizes, the price list and regulars' usual orders in your head.

Cash and card handling

You run payments all night and are often accountable for a drawer that has to balance at closing.

Physical stamina

Shifts mean hours on your feet, lifting ice bins and cases and working late into the night.

O*NET 31.0 rates these skills as most important for the occupation: active listening, speaking, critical thinking, reading comprehension, active learning.

Training cost

$0–$38

Before financial aid

Time

3-12 months

Typical path

Median pay

$34,340

All US jobs: $50,980

Payback once qualified

No premium

Pay above the all-jobs median vs. cost

Low: $0, because most bartenders are trained on the job and many employers pay for required server training. High: $38, the price of TIPS's Rhode Island On-Premise online course, as an example of a responsible-server certification. In Washington, MAST classes come from state-certified private providers and prices vary. Not included: optional private bartending school tuition, which varies by school, and any local permit fees.

Rough guide only: ignores taxes, aid, interest and earnings given up during training. How we calculate it.

• Bar manager

  Experienced bartenders take on ordering, inventory, scheduling and staff training, often after a few years at one venue.

• Chef$62,470 median

  Some bartenders move to the kitchen side, usually through culinary school or by working up from a line cook position.

• Operations manager$105,770 median

  Running a restaurant or hotel food and beverage operation usually takes years of supervisory experience and, at larger companies, often a degree in hospitality or business.

• Beverage director or brand representative

  Bartenders with deep spirits, wine or beer knowledge move into menu design, distributor sales or brand ambassador jobs, often after industry courses.