Becoming a bartender requires learning, observing, becoming certified, and then climbing your way up. Many entry-level positions at bars and restaurants, you can help you get exposure to bartending while earning a paycheck. While attending bartending school is necessary for certification and job placement, gaining firsthand experience in the service industry is vital to your career success. It will truly help you develop a solid foundation of knowledge.
Use our guide as a resource to discover how to embark on a journey towards becoming a bartender, even without prior experience.
Table of Contents
What Does a Bartender do?
A bartender is a professional who works in a restaurant, bar, hotel, club or other establishment mixing drinks and serving them to customers. They usually serve customers from behind the bar or through wait staff. Many also assist in maintaining product inventory and supplies for the bar where they work.
Common duties of a bartender include:
“Before I took the plunge into bartending, I was a high school history teacher. The decision to switch careers wasn’t easy, but I knew I needed a fresh start. I enrolled in a local Austin bartending course to get a solid foundation—something I quickly realized was essential. It’s tempting to cut corners, but in bartending, that can lead to bigger problems. The hands-on lessons I received from the school were invaluable. They prepared me for my first job at a bustling nightclub, where I had to hit the ground running. The blend of thorough education and a strong work ethic made all the difference in those challenging early days. I’m really happy I invested in that proper training; it gave me the confidence to tackle any shift that came my way.”
Marcus Lee, 35, Austin, TX
How To Become a Bartender
If you’re considering this career, there are a few steps you can take to become a bartender. Consider the following:
1. Earn a high school diploma
Good thing a college degree isn’t required to become a bartender. However, you should have a high school diploma or GED. It will help. Of course, you should also be old enough to serve alcohol and tend bar in the state where you intend to work.
Depending on the state, you must be at least 16 years old to serve alcohol and at least 18 years old to tend bar in a licensed establishment.
2. Attend bartending school
Attending bartending school isn’t a requirement, but it can teach you the basics of mixing drinks and serving alcoholic beverages to customers safely. Many hospitality schools offer bartending programs to those who are interested in this career path.
3. Gain experience and work your way up
You need to gain hands-on experience. A bartending school does not guarantee employment. This means you’ll need to work in a restaurant or a bar. Many bartenders begin as waiters or runners before advancing to a bartender.
4. Work as a barback
As just mentioned, you need to work your way up. Being a barback is a great way to transition into bartending. A barback is more directly linked to bartending than waiting tables. You’ll need to learn all the tools of the trade alongside the pros, which could help you advance more quickly. You also don’t need bartending experience to become a barback.
5. Practice your skills
Once you can mix and serve drinks to customers, it’s important that you practice your skills. Get as much practice as possible to perfect your craft. You should also do some research to learn about new mixing techniques, bartending terms and taste profiles.
“Honestly, I was pretty clueless when I first decided to dive into bartending. I knew online courses weren’t for me—I wanted hands-on experience and to jump right in. So, I signed up for a short, in-person bartending course, which turned out to be a game-changer. The real learning happened behind the bar, where I volunteered at a friend’s event to get my foot in the door. I was fortunate because many people without a proper bartending education or certification struggle to find jobs without any experience. It was a mix of trial and error, asking for feedback, and staying persistent that helped me improve. I’m grateful for the chance to learn directly on the job and for the positive attitude that carried me through those early, challenging days.”
Rita Gonzalez, 22, Sacramento, CA
What Skills Should a Bartender have?
If you’re considering a role as a bartender, here are some essential skills to have:
Strong communication skills are necessary for this role, as well as an outgoing personality since you’ll be interacting with customers on a regular basis.
Multitasking is often a required skill as you may be tasked with several duties at once, especially during peak times like happy hour.
Teamwork is an essential quality for successful bartenders as you’ll have to coordinate with wait staff, cooks, bussers and other colleagues on a regular basis.
Physical stamina is important for bartenders, as you’ll likely need to stand for long periods and have the ability to lift heavy boxes.
A strong memory for matching drink orders to customers is essential, and it helps to remember the names of regular customers.
Math skills are useful for handling cash and tips, especially on a busy night when you may need to do quick calculations.
In addition to soft skills, you’ll also want to acquire some technical skills in this field, including the following:
The lingo so you’ll know how to better communicate with your coworkers. Terms such as “neat” (no ice), “dirty” (a martini with olive juice), “dry” (a martini with a little vermouth), a “call drink” (when someone requests a brand name of liquor), a “free pour” (mixing a drink without measuring the ingredients) and “rocks” (ice).
The tools of the trade, so to speak, including how to use a cocktail strainer (used to strain ice), a cocktail spoon (used to stir), a jigger (used to measure shots) and a shaker (used to mix drinks).
The right way to pour beverages, including wine etiquette and pouring a beer in a way that prevents beer foam from overwhelming the glass.
“I was a barista when I decided to switch to bartending. My friend, who was a busy bartender himself, was my main source of learning. It took almost three months to get up to speed, but I soaked up every bit of advice he gave me. Sure, a legit bartending course could’ve given me the basics in a week, but I’m really grateful that my friend recommended me to his network. That’s how I landed my first gig as a party bartender with a Miami bartending service company. It’s all about starting from the bottom and being eager to learn.”
Jessica Rios, 27, Miami, FL
How Much Does a Bartender Usually Make?
The average salary for a bartender depends on a variety of factors, such as experience, skill level and location. A bartender’s salary also depends on their hourly wage and the tips they receive from their customers. Bartenders who work in busy restaurants or popular bars may make more money than those who work in smaller establishments. For the most up-to-date information from Indeed, please click on the salary link below.
Average salary for a bartender in the U.S.: $11.70 per hour
Some salaries range from $7.25–$28.30 per hour .
“Man, bartending wasn’t my original plan. I was doing it part-time while wrapping up my marketing degree, just to make some extra cash. When I finally took the plunge and went full-time, it was a real grind—crazy hours, learning on the fly, and juggling shifts. I remember this one wild Friday night when a client left a $600 tip, and overall, we raked in almost $1,300 in tips that night. It was a huge boost and made all the tough times worth it. Every shift was a chance to get better, and finally, all that hard work paid off and turned bartending into my full-time career. It was rough, but moments like that made it all worthwhile.”
Liam O’Connor, 29, Chicago, IL
“Okay, so here’s the deal: I was totally new to bartending and just coming from a retail job when I decided to make the switch. I signed up for a bartending workshop that completely reshaped my view of mixology and bartending. The hands-on training and my instructor really opened my eyes to what the job was all about. Plus, they had a job placement program, which was a lifesaver—I landed my first gig through that! The first few weeks were intense—long shifts, learning on the fly, and figuring out the bar’s rhythm. My schedule was all over the place, and pay wasn’t fantastic at first, but the experience was invaluable. With some patience and a lot of hard work, I went from being a newbie to feeling right at home behind the bar. It’s tough, but so worth it!”
Nina Patel, 31, Seattle, WA
What Are a Bartender's Typical Hours?
Bartenders typically work late evenings and on weekends in restaurants, bars, clubs, hotels and other food and drink service establishments. Bartending is a demanding job that requires working under pressure during busy hours to provide quality service to customers.
Understanding How to Become a Bartender: The Hiring Process
Before we venture off into uncharted territory, let’s make sure we understand what’s expected of us as baby bartenders. First, we’ll start with the hiring process. Without the ability to get hired, we lose all chances at achieving the ultimate goal of becoming a bartender.
Here’s what we’ll cover.
- Legal Requirements
- Writing a Resume
- Looking for a Job
- Interviewing
- Proving Your Skills
- Landing the Job
Legal Requirements–Age and Safe Service Certifications
Make sure you are old enough to be a bartender before heading off to apply for jobs. Each state and country varies, so do some research.
Once you know you’re of age, look into getting certified in how to serve alcohol safely and legally. Every bartender has to go through this responsibility training (again this varies by where you live!), so it’s good practice to have this done already.
You’ll hear this safety license referred to as: responsible service of alcohol, alcohol awareness serving certification, or liquor serving license.
Pro Tip: Some establishments will reimburse you for this training. But if you want to set yourself apart from other applicants, this is a fine way to do it. Managers will have one less thing to worry about when hiring you, making their job easy.
Writing a Resume
If you think you don’t need a resume to become a bartender—think again. I understand it may be hard to put your skills into words, but having a strong resume will help you stand out amongst a crowd of fish.
You have three options for creating a powerful resume.
- Hire an expert off Upwork , or a similar platform.
- Use a free template.
- Write it yourself.
If you choose to write it yourself or even use a free template, we’d recommend getting feedback from at least three people. Especially those with plenty of experience in the service industry.
Looking for a Job
Once you have a resume that will smash your competition, are of a legal age, and can serve alcohol safely, you are ready for the big leagues.
Well, tryouts at least.
It’s time to look for a job!
Start online through posted ads or head out on foot with a folder of your resumes printed out. I even like to get fancy, thick paper so the hiring managers know I take this job very seriously.
More tips on how to impress the bar manager are coming up soon!
Interviewing
Since you have the bases covered, your shots at landing an interview are high! Kind of like mimosas at brunch—they’re bound to happen.
And don’t be surprised if you get asked to interview on the spot. The F&B (food and beverage) industry is known for its high turnover, especially post-pandemic. Some restaurants really need help, and quickly!
Prepare beforehand by looking over the drink menu (food menu too, if there is one!). Be ready to answer a common question like, “why did you choose to apply here over other places?”.
For scheduled interviews, show them you have your stuff together by arriving early, dressed nicely (appropriate to the dress wear required), smile, and write questions ahead of time.
As a previous bar manager, I can tell you firsthand to not worry about being nervous. We are all human, and we all experience emotions. Just breathe slowly and try to stay focused on presenting your skills as calmly as possible.
Proving Your Skills
The practice shift.
It’s a daunting thing.It happens. But not always!
In fine dining or well-known bars and restaurants, it’s common practice for hiring managers to ask an individual to come in for a sneak peek at their skills.
You’re going to be nervous and probably unpaid.
They’ll ask you to make drinks on the rocks versus neat. They’ll have you pour draught beers and take payments. Some of this you can practice at home. Some you can learn through being a server, host, or bar back first.
Remain confident. Be honest. Stay open. And if you don’t know what to wear, just ask the person you’ve been in contact with.
If you can remember one thing during your practice shift (aka stage), I’d tell you this. Remember to smile, stay busy, and at the very least engage with customers confidently but briefly. I’ll tell you why this is so important later.
Landing the Job
All the hurdles have been cleared. All that’s next is to stick the landing and wait for the job offer.
Don’t be caught off guard if you’re asked to come in for another practice shift or if you’re offered a bar back position instead of becoming a bartender straight away.
With no experience, being a bar back is an amazing way to learn the swing of things and make decent money while you’re at it. Think of it as a paid apprenticeship.
And if you work extra hard for the veteran bartenders, they’ll tip you better and give you more responsibilities. Do I smell a mentor?
“Back in college, I needed some extra cash, so I decided to give bartending a shot. I had zero experience at first, so I started out as a barback, just soaking up everything behind the scenes. I took a short bartending course and got my California bartending license, which felt like my ticket to dive into the world of bartending. Once I got the basics down, I jumped into a bartending role. The secret? Stay curious and embrace the chaos of a busy bar. It’s wild, but that’s where you really learn and grow.”
Ethan Wong, 24, San Francisco, CA
9 Simple Steps on How to Become a Bartender (Yep, Even with No Experience)
- Know the Job
- Play Your Bartending Life
- Have Bartender Dreams and Aspirations
- Solidify Your Resume
- Build Relationships and Rapport
- Seek Out a Mentor
- Network and Job Research
- Stay Open Minded to Working Your Way Up
- Master Some Skills
1. Know the Job
Know what you’ll be expected to do when you step foot behind the bar.
Watch videos and read about a typical bartending shift. You’ll want to research a few things like setting up the bar, getting ready for service (pre-service), what to do during service, and breaking down/closing the bar.
2. Plan Your Bartending Life
Ask yourself what type of establishment you’d really just freakin’ love to work in. Is it Chili’s or a club setting? I love hotel bars or food-heavy bars like gastropubs. You can even niche-down to wine, breweries, or craft cocktail bars.
Have a goal for how much you’d like to make. What time of day do you want to work? Where do you want to work?
With bartending, the floor is open.
3. Have Bartender Dreams and Aspirations
Some bartenders are fine working at their local watering hole. We love that. Some of you want to become a professional mixologist and win competitions. We love that, too.
Have dreams and aspirations to work towards so you know exactly where you want to be.
4. Solidify Your Resume
Once you gain more and more experience in the service industry, be sure to update your resume regularly so you’re ready to transition to bigger and better things when it happens for you.
5. Build Relationships and Rapport
In the lay of bartending land, relationships and rapport is key. Not only with your clientele, but with other bartenders.
If you have no experience, having the right relationship can really help you get your foot in the door.
6. Seek Out a Mentor
If you’re set on becoming a bartender fast, having a mentor can be a sure-fire way to do it. A mentor can guide you, 1-on-1, on making basic drinks, pouring techniques, and much more.
Plus, they probably already have tools to learn on and a network of people to lean on. They also have more than likely heard of who needs help in local bars.
7. Network and Job Research
Did someone say networking? Oh, right. That was me.
Networking is fun when you’re learning to become a bartender because it often includes, well, going to a bar! When you’re there, take a look at how they’re holding their bar tools. What bar tools are they using?
Tell them you’re learning to be a bartender. If they’re not busy, they might even show you a drink or their go-to technique!
You can also do some networking online via LinkedIn and/or Facebook groups.
8. Stay Open Minded: Working Your Way Up
Bartenders have been doing their craft for a while. It can be hard for those with no experience to walk onto a bartending team.
That being said, stay open-minded to working your way up.
You might start off as a server, cocktail person, or bar back. It’s honestly a great way to learn (that’s how I started!) and a fantastic opportunity to show your new team exactly what you’re capable of.
9. Master 3 Soft and 3 Hard Skills
Have you heard of soft and hard skills? Soft skills are difficult to measure because they’re not very tangible. But hard skills are easy to measure and prove. Here are a few of both, so you can practice mastering both soft and hard skills before you set out on your journey of becoming a bartender.
Flexibility
Self-motivation
Work Ethic
Food Knowledge
Knowledge of Basic Math
Degree, Awards, or Certifications
“Living in a small Midwestern town, I was stuck in a corporate job that just didn’t excite me. I kept hearing that you didn’t need bartending school—just show up and ask for a job. I took that advice to heart and spent weeks talking to every local bar and venue, but no one was willing to give me a chance because I lacked experience. I watched endless YouTube videos from flashy bartenders saying how easy it was to get started without formal training, but it wasn’t working for me. Frustrated, I decided to move to a larger city nearby and enrolled in a bartending school. The program was fantastic—offered real-world classes and one-on-one lessons in an actual bar setting. That hands-on experience was exactly what I needed to build my confidence. Now, after five years in the industry, I’m a senior bartender at ‘The Silver Tap,’ a really popular spot downtown. It’s been a journey full of learning and persistence, but that formal training really made all the difference. It’s true what they say: sometimes you need to go the extra mile to find your place.”
Chris Chen, 37, St. Louis, MO
Advice from a Bar and Hiring Manager: What Skills Matter When You Have No Experience
I’ve worked in restaurants and bars since 2008. After getting my degree in hospitality and food management, I managed bars throughout the country at a large hotel chain and even at a few standalone bars/restaurants.
After some research, on my own accord and on behalf of all of you lovely humans, we’ve narrowed down the skills that actually matter when you’re learning how to become a bartender with no experience.
Drumroll, please!
The top skills that bar managers look for are work ethic, attitude, and a willingness to learn or adapt. Some have adopted the hiring practice to look for people with the right attitude, instead of skill. We can teach skills. The right attitude can’t be taught!
But if you do need help with the hard skills, check out our online course .
Now you know how to become a bartender, even with no experience!
You’ve gotten to know the hiring process, learned easy steps on how to become an actual bartender, and heard from bar managers with years of experience in the industry. You’re closer to being behind the bar than you think.
If you want to become a bartender but are still stuck at home, you might like this 1-on-1 in-home bartending course from us here at Local Bartending School.
