by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Bartending/Bartender involves the study of Bartending/bartender. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Professionally Prepare Mixed Alcoholic And Non-Alcoholic Beverages And Related Products And Manage Bars, Lounges, And Beverage Service Operations In The Hospitality Industry. Includes Instruction In Mixology, Oenology, Accounting And Cash Management, Inventory And Cellar Management, Bar And Lounge Management, Applicable Laws And Regulations, Customer Service, And Labor/employment Regulations. Continue reading for the important information every bartending/bartender major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering bartending/bartender programs.
In the U.S., bartending/bartender is a popular field of study, with 237 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Bartending/Bartender Schools ranking analyzes these 7 schools to determine the best overall colleges for bartending/bartender students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of bartending/bartender programs later in this article.
Programs in Bartending/Bartender develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations bartending/bartender graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a bartending/bartender program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a bartending/bartender major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several bartending/bartender degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 183 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 51 |
People currently working in careers related to bartending/bartender tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 43.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 37.0% |
| Some college courses | 16.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 1.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in bartending/bartender careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in bartending/bartender prepares you for a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to bartending/bartender.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to bartending/bartender.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Bartenders | 586,986 | 12.2% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of bartending/bartender graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $24,617 |
| 4 years | $29,033 |
| 5 years | $32,264 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for bartending/bartender graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers bartending/bartender grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Bartenders | $28,151 |
With 7 different bartending/bartender programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased bartending/bartender school rankings to help you.
Those considering bartending/bartender, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
