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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Occupational Requirements Survey > Publications > Factsheets

Bartenders

Mix and serve drinks to patrons, directly or through waitstaff.

For terms and definitions in this profile, see definitions of major terms.

Cognitive and mental requirements

The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make decisions, interact with others, and adapt to changes in jobs.

In 2025, external verbal interactions were required constantly (every few minutes) for 90.6 percent of bartenders. External verbal interactions were required more than once per hour (but not constantly) for 9.4 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of bartenders with cognitive and mental requirements, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Work schedule varies	83.2	16.8
Ability to pause work (and take brief unscheduled breaks)	20.3	79.7
Working around crowds	5.7	94.3
Telework routinely allowed	<0.5	>99.5
Supervising others	1.2	98.8
Supervisor present in immediate work area	83.6	16.4
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Education, training, and experience requirements

The minimum level of formal education required, credentials necessary, on-the-job training, and prior work experience necessary for average performance in jobs. The time associated with these requirements is combined to calculate the specific vocational preparation level needed for the job.

In 2025, prior work experience was required for 55.0 percent of bartenders and on-the-job training was required for 93.7 percent.

No minimum education was required for 75.3 percent of bartenders.

Environmental conditions

The various hazards or difficulties that are in the area where workers perform their critical tasks.

In 2025, a quiet noise exposure was present for 0.9 percent of bartenders. Another 85.1 percent were exposed to moderate noise, 14.1 percent were exposed to loud noise, and less than 0.5 percent to very loud noise. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was used by less than 0.5 percent of workers to mitigate noise exposure and was not used by greater than 99.5 percent.

Physical demands

The physical activities required to perform tasks in jobs. The presence and, in some cases, duration of these activities are published.

In 2025, speaking was required for greater than 99.5 percent of bartenders and was not required for less than 0.5 percent. For less than 0.5 percent of workers, speaking was seldom required, for 35.4 percent speaking was occasionally required, for 63.9 percent speaking was frequently required, and for less than 5 percent speaking was required constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required for 84.6 percent of bartenders and was not required for 15.4 percent.

On average, bartenders spent 1.7 percent of the workday sitting and 98.3 percent of the workday standing.

Table 2. Percentage of bartenders with physical demands, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Ability to choose to sit or stand for tasks	<0.5	>99.5
Driving	<0.5	>99.5
Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs	16.7	83.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey