Wages Discrepancy Between Bartenders and Servers
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), bartenders earned more than servers. BLS May 2021 data showed servers earned a mean hourly wage of $13.95 and bartenders earned $14.59.
The BLS data reported the federal average hourly wage for servers as $12.88 and for bartenders at $13.46. Bartenders generally make $2-$3 more than servers per hour.
Geographical Disparities in Wages
Servers in Hawaii, DC, and Washington state reported high median hourly wages with tips at $21.77, $17.48, and $16.29, respectively. The average annual pay for restaurant managers is $41,511, equivalent to an hourly wage of $21.00.
Implications of Changing Wage Structures
Recently, there’s been discussion about raising waiter and bartender wages to a "living wage," which would involve eliminating the tip culture. However, this change could controversially impact other staff members who rely on tips.
In summary, bartenders typically earn more than servers. Both waiter and bartender positions offer the potential for good pay through tips, depending on factors such as location and the establishment.