Barback
Impact: Operational efficiency, customer satisfaction
Assists bartenders by stocking supplies, preparing garnishes, maintaining cleanliness, and ensuring smooth bar operations to enhance customer experience.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Extensive
- Team vs solo
- Team-oriented
- Client facing
- Rarely
- Impact visibility
- Low
- Travel
- None
- Schedule flexibility
- Rigid
- Remote work
- On-site Only
- Typical work hours
- Evenings, weekends, and holidays
- Stress level
- Moderate
At a glance
- Median salary
- $35,000
- Entry-level
- $23,000 - $28,000
- Senior
- $45,000 - $55,000
- Growth by 2033
- 6% (as fast as average for bartenders)
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Salary growth potential
- Moderate
- Typical student debt
- $0
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Stock Management
- Inventory Control
- Glassware Handling
- Keg Changing
- Basic Cleaning
Soft skills
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Attention to Detail
- Customer Service
- Adaptability
Technical complexity: Low
How to get there
- Minimum education
- No formal educational credential
- Licensing
- No
- Years to mid-career
- 1-2 years
- Years to senior
- 3-5 years
- Career switching
- Easy
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Bartender, Bar Manager
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 15% to low risk due to relationship and judgment components
- AI disruption risk
- Very Low
- Demand trend
- Stable
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 3/10
- Meaning
- 2.8/10
- Work-life balance
- 5/10
- Prestige
- 3.5/10
- Social perception
- Moderate