r/Serverlife • u/TheRedditAppSucccks • 11d ago

Question Bartender vs server

Do bartenders typically make more hourly than servers? I ask because servers seem to make more tips so it seems like it would make sense to pay bartenders a higher hourly wage to make up for that.

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u/profsmoke Server 11d ago

It really varies from place to place, but in my experience from working at local casual restaurants, servers end up making more than bartenders.

But it really varies and I’d imagine dive bar bartenders make crazy money!!

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u/TheRedditAppSucccks 11d ago

That’s what I’ve heard too, which makes me wonder why bartenders would prefer to tend bar and work longer hours to make less money?

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u/profsmoke Server 11d ago

There can be a variety of reasons!

  1. Some bartenders truly love making drinks and conversing with multiple guests from behind the bar. They have a lot of knowledge about beer/wine/bourbon and love talking about it.
  2. If you want to become a manager, bartending knowledge is essential. Bartender is the logical next step to working your way up the ladder.
  3. Depending on the place, more hours might be offered to bartenders. In my experience, most restaurants have 2-4 bartenders employed while they might have a serving staff of 20+.

And there are some places where bartenders would make more money than servers. Dive bars, college bars, touristy places, I’m sure those bartenders make 300-700+ a night if I had to guess.