Table of Contents
- 1 How long does it take to become a bartender from a barback?
- 2 Can a barback make drinks?
- 3 How much do barbacks make per hour?
- 4 How long should you be a barback?
- 5 How much tips do Barbacks get?
- 6 How are Barbacks paid?
- 7 How long does it take to transition from barback to bartender?
- 8 What is it like to be a barback?
- 9 How much do barbacks get paid a year?
How long does it take to become a bartender from a barback?
3-6 months
Anywhere from 3-6 months of full-time work should be long enough to become a solid barback and learn the basics of bartending.
Can a barback make drinks?
While barbacks do not typically make drinks or take orders from customers, they have to practice many of the same skills that a good bartender has: efficiency, organization, the ability to multitask, and keen observation. It’s also important to remember that heavy lifting is often involved in the barback position.
How much does a barback make a week?
How Much Do Barback Jobs Pay per Week?
| Annual Salary | Weekly Pay | |
|---|---|---|
| Top Earners | $31,500 | $605 |
| 75th Percentile | $28,000 | $538 |
| Average | $24,059 | $462 |
| 25th Percentile | $18,500 | $355 |
How much do barbacks make per hour?
The average hourly wage for a Barback in the United States is $11 as of November 29, 2021, but the salary range typically falls between $9 and $12.
How long should you be a barback?
Barbacks tend to shadow and support bartenders, making this role an ideal stepping stone for someone who wants to be a bartender one day. Almost all bartenders start out as barbacks first, and they can spend anywhere from 6 to 18 months as a barback before moving up, depending on how fast they learn.
Can a girl be a barback?
“If a woman is capable, she should be considered for that barback position alongside men.” At The NoMad (New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas), every member of the bar staff is required to start as a barback before advancing to bartender.
How much tips do Barbacks get?
Most restaurants tip out their barbacks, which can leave them making more than non-tipped positions like cooks and dishwashers. In many cases, each bartender will tip out the barback at the end of the shift, anywhere from 1-2\% of sales or 5-20\% of tips, according to Bars and Bartending .
How are Barbacks paid?
Barbacks are usually paid hourly, plus tips. In many cases, each bartender will tip out the barback at the end of the shift, anywhere from 1-2\% of sales or 5-20\% of tips, according to Bars and Bartending . If a busy bartender makes $200-300 in tips per night, the tip out could be anywhere from $10 to $60.
Is being a barback worth it?
Make no mistake – barbacking is a tough job. But it’s absolutely vital to our industry and to any high volume bar. And it’s also a fantastic stepping stone to work your way up to a bartending job. If you work hard, pay attention, and try to get better every day, then you’ll make a fantastic barback!
How long does it take to transition from barback to bartender?
In most establishments, it takes anywhere between 12 to 16 months before they transition from barback to bartender. Once you’ve written an accurate, descriptive job ad, you need to post your job ad on the right channels for it to be seen by qualified candidates. We suggest starting with these websites:
What is it like to be a barback?
As a barback you really learn very little about how to be a great bartender. The barbacks job is a tough one. It often requires heavy lifting and physically demanding work. Depending on the bar you work at, you will be restocking coolers, do not recommend changing kegs, clearing/washing glassware and helping the bartender out any way you can.
What is the best way to get started in bartending?
Start out as a barback first. Some people don’t like to hear this (especially if they’ve been to bartending school), but starting out as a barback is seen as the most RELIABLE way to break into the industry and become a bartender. Even bartending schools recommend that their students start out as a barback first…
How much do barbacks get paid a year?
While most salary and wage reports for the barback suggest you can expect to earn around $17-$20k per year, they vary dramatically by market and it’s also possible that these numbers exclude tipped earnings. For a good baseline, consider the local minimum wage and multiply by your expected hours For example: