Jobs Similar to Bartenders
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to bartenders, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Waiters and Waitresses, Food Servers and Gambling Dealers.
Bartenders: $34,340 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Bartenders) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waiters and WaitressesSame group | 80% | $35,230+3% | High school |
| 2 | Food Servers, NonrestaurantSame group | 78% | $35,360+3% | High school |
| 3 | Gambling Dealers | 77% | $34,3200% | High school |
| 4 | Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | 77% | $31,200−9% | High school |
| 5 | Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | 77% | $33,980−1% | High school |
| 6 | Stockers and Order Fillers | 77% | $37,330+9% | High school |
| 7 | Fast Food and Counter WorkersSame group | 76% | $31,200−9% | High school |
| 8 | Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners | 76% | $34,980+2% | High school |
| 9 | Cashiers | 75% | $32,880−4% | High school |
| 10 | First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers | 75% | $63,820+86% | High school |
| 11 | Shampooers | 75% | $32,600−5% | High school |
| 12 | Food Service Managers | 75% | $69,390+102% | High school |
| 13 | BaristasSame group | 75% | $31,200Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 14 | First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 75% | $44,080+28% | High school |
| 15 | Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | 75% | $79,520+132% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 74% | $48,520+41% | High school |
| 17 | Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants | 74% | $36,300+6% | High school |
| 18 | Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | 74% | $32,910−4% | High school |
| 19 | Flight Attendants | 74% | $63,580+85% | High school |
| 20 | Lodging Managers | 74% | $69,250+102% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Waiters and Waitresses
80% similar · $35,230 (+3%) · High school · Same group
- 2Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
78% similar · $35,360 (+3%) · High school · Same group
- 3Gambling Dealers
77% similar · $34,320 (0%) · High school
- 4Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
77% similar · $31,200 (−9%) · High school
- 5Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
77% similar · $33,980 (−1%) · High school
- 6Stockers and Order Fillers
77% similar · $37,330 (+9%) · High school
- 7Fast Food and Counter Workers
76% similar · $31,200 (−9%) · High school · Same group
- 8Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners
76% similar · $34,980 (+2%) · High school
- 9Cashiers
75% similar · $32,880 (−4%) · High school
- 10First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers
75% similar · $63,820 (+86%) · High school
- 11Shampooers
75% similar · $32,600 (−5%) · High school
- 12Food Service Managers
75% similar · $69,390 (+102%) · High school
- 13Baristas
75% similar · $31,200 (broader group) · High school · Same group
- 14First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
75% similar · $44,080 (+28%) · High school
- 15Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling
75% similar · $79,520 (+132%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
74% similar · $48,520 (+41%) · High school
- 17Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants
74% similar · $36,300 (+6%) · High school
- 18Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers
74% similar · $32,910 (−4%) · High school
- 19Flight Attendants
74% similar · $63,580 (+85%) · High school
- 20Lodging Managers
74% similar · $69,250 (+102%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than bartenders.
- Food Service Managers75% similar · $69,390 (+102%)
- First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers75% similar · $63,820 (+86%)
- Flight Attendants74% similar · $63,580 (+85%)
- First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers74% similar · $48,520 (+41%)
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers75% similar · $44,080 (+28%)
- Stockers and Order Fillers77% similar · $37,330 (+9%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for bartenders also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where bartenders is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers (84)
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop (84)
- Gambling Dealers (77)
- Stockers and Order Fillers (77)
- Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners (76)
- Shampooers (75)
- Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants (74)
- Retail Salespersons (74)
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers (74)
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (73)
Questions about jobs like bartenders
What jobs are most similar to bartenders?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Waiters and Waitresses (80% similar), Food Servers (78% similar), Gambling Dealers (77% similar), Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop (77% similar) and Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers (77% similar).
Which jobs like bartenders pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Entertainment and Recreation Managers ($79,520, +132%; usually a bachelor's degree), Food Service Managers ($69,390, +102%; usually a high school diploma) and Lodging Managers ($69,250, +102%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with bartenders ($34,340). Without more preparation than bartenders usually need: Food Service Managers, First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers and Flight Attendants.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.