Food & BeverageCompare

Bartender

O*NET: Bartenders·35-3011.00

The Verdict:Bartending thrives on physical drink mixing, pouring, and garnishing in fast-paced settings, plus reading the room for customer vibes and handling rowdy patrons. People seek the human flair and conversation that robots lack. Self-serve kiosks handle basics in some spots, but the social craft core endures with steady nightlife demand.

Resilience Score

/100

Resilient

Score tiers

Highly Resilient81–100

Resilient61–80

Moderate Risk41–60

High Risk21–40

Critical Risk0–20

How is this scored?

Task Resilience

How much of this role's daily work remains beyond AI and robotic automation.

30% of score

Physical Presence

The degree to which this job needs a human present — hands-on, in the field, or in the room.

20% of score

Human Necessity

How important the unique human edge is — for trust, accountability, or judgment.

15% of score

Regulatory Shield

How strong the legal requirement is for a human in this job (by law, licensing, or credentials).

13% of score

Technological Maturity

How far AI remains from performing this role's core functions.

10% of score

Displacement Evidence

The volume of jobs in this field being eliminated by AI or automation right now.

12% of score

Score last updated: February 2026Full methodology

Avg Salary

Median annual wage from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 release.

$34k

Job Growth (10yr)

Projected change in total number of jobs (not salary) from 2024–2034. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections.

+5.9%

AI Exposure

Percentage of this role's analyzed tasks that AI can handle autonomously or nearly so. 1 of 21 tasks are classified as AI-exposed.

Low exposure

Task Analysis

This role's core work is hard to automate.
13 of 21 tasks require human judgment, presence, or trust. The 33% that are AI-leverage offer an edge — professionals who learn these tools will outperform those who don't.

1exposed

7AI leverage

13human-essential

View all 21 tasks

AI Can Handle This1 task

Tasks AI can do autonomously or nearly so

Balance cash receipts.

AI Leverage7 tasks

Master these tools — humans who do outperform those who don't

Collect money for drinks served.

Take beverage orders from serving staff or directly from patrons.

Plan, organize, and control the operations of a cocktail lounge or bar.

Create drink recipes.

Order or requisition liquors and supplies.

Plan bar menus.

Provide customers with directions or answers to questions.

Human Advantage13 tasks

Tasks requiring trust, presence, or novel judgment

Clean glasses, utensils, and bar equipment.

Check identification of customers to verify age requirements for purchase of alcohol.

Clean bars, work areas, and tables.

Attempt to limit problems and liability related to customers' excessive drinking by taking steps such as persuading customers to stop drinking, or ordering taxis or other transportation for intoxicated patrons.

Serve wine, and bottled or draft beer.

Stock bar with beer, wine, liquor, and related supplies such as ice, glassware, napkins, or straws.

Serve snacks or food items to customers seated at the bar.

Mix ingredients, such as liquor, soda, water, sugar, and bitters, to prepare cocktails and other drinks.

Slice and pit fruit for garnishing drinks.

Ask customers who become loud and obnoxious to leave, or physically remove them.

Arrange bottles and glasses to make attractive displays.

Supervise the work of bar staff and other bartenders.

Prepare appetizers such as pickles, cheese, and cold meats.

Resilience Landscape

Bartender lands in Stable, Lower Pay

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