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Top 10 Bartender Jobs in Miami, FL – May 2024 Salaries
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We selected some of the top Bartender jobs in Miami — complete with requirements, salary and benefits.
Best Bartender Jobs in Miami (Hiring Now!)
Ranked as one of the metropolitan areas with the highest employment levels in bartending, the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach area offers an array of exciting opportunities.
[Source: BLS]
If you’re looking to expand your bartending career in the Magic City, explore our handpicked selection of the best Bartender jobs in Miami.
1. Motek | $31–$53 per hour
[Source: Motek]
- Position: Bartender
- About: Motek, Hebrew for “sweetheart,” is a family-owned kosher-style Mediterranean restaurant with influences from Lebanon, Morocco, Turkey, Yemen and more.
- Requirements: At least four years’ experience as a bartender; extensive wine and liquor knowledge
- Salary: $65,000–$110,000 per year, including tips and service charge
- Job type: Full-time
- Benefits: Dental insurance, health insurance, vision insurance, paid training
- Where to apply: Visit Motek’s career page
2. Ariete Hospitality Group | $25–$40 per hour
[Source: Ariete]
- Position: Bartender
- About: Ariete is a Michelin-starred restaurant that infuses new American influences with classic French. Be part of its kitchen team and get to work with the owner and chef, Michael Beltran.
- Requirements: No previous experience required
- Salary: $24,000–$76,800 base plus tips per year
- Job type: Full-time and part-time (20–40 hours per week; eight-hour shifts)
- Benefits: Flexible schedule, employee discount, health, dental and vision insurance, paid training
- Where to apply: Visit Ariete Hospitality Group’s career page
3. SSA Group, LLC | $18–$20 per hour
[Source: SSA Group, LLC]
- Position: Bartender
- About: The SSA Group specializes in providing comprehensive solutions for enhancing revenue and operational efficiency across various sectors, including food service, retail and admissions.
- Requirements: All educational backgrounds are eligible; bartending and/or event industry experience is a plus
- Salary: $18,720–$20,800 base plus tips per year
- Job type: Part-time
- Benefits: Employee assistance program, parental leave, meal plans, employee discounts
- Where to apply: Visit SSA Group’s career page
4. The Balfour Miami Hotel | $20 per hour
[Source: The Balfour Miami Hotel]
- Position: Bartender/Server
- About: The Balfour Hotel is located on Ocean Drive, home to many shopping, dining and entertainment options.
- Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent; experience in a hotel or a related field preferred
- Salary: $41,600 base plus tips per year
- Job type: Full-time
- Benefits: 401(k)/retirement plan, flexible schedule, dental insurance
- Where to apply: Visit The Balfour Miami Hotel’s career page
5. Troon (Shell Bay Club) | $25 per hour
[Source: Troon]
- Position: Bartender
- About: With sport and wellness offerings conceptualized by world-renowned experts, Shell Bay Club is a playground for peak performance and boundless potential.
- Requirements: At least one year of bartending experience
- Salary: $52,000 base plus tips per year
- Job type: Full-time
- Benefits: 401(k)/retirement plan, dental insurance, employee assistance program, paid holidays
- Where to apply: Visit Troon’s career page
6. RedFarm | $22.50 per hour
[Source: RedFarm]
- Position: Bartender/Mixologist
- About: RedFarm offers inventive Chinese cuisine and dim sum with a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
- Requirements: At least two years of experience as a bartender or restaurant worker
- Salary: $46,800 base plus tips per year
- Job type: Full-time and part-time
- Benefits: Employee discounts, health, dental and vision insurance
- Where to apply: Visit RedFarm’s career page
7. Julia Valler Event Staffing | $19–$25 per hour
[Source: Jullia Valler]
- Position: Event Bartender
- About: Julia Valler Model Staffing Agency is one of the top event staffing agencies in NYC, Miami and LA. Each year, it provides over 15,000 staff members for clients’ events, including bartenders, servers and other positions.
- Requirements: Previous experience in fine dining or high-end events; must be able to lift up to 45 pounds
- Salary: $39,520–$52,000 base plus tips per year
- Job type: Part-time
- Benefits: Flexible schedule, service training and professional growth opportunities
- Where to apply: Visit Julia Valler’s career page
8. Truluck’s Miami | $31.25–$48.08 per hour
[Source: Truluck’s]
- Position: Bartender (Fine Dining)
- About: Located on Brickell Avenue, Truluck’s Miami is an upscale seafood restaurant and live entertainment lounge dedicated to serving specialty cocktails and top-notch dishes.
- Requirements: At least five years’ experience as a bartender, preferably in a fine dining concept
- Salary: $65,000–$100,000 base plus tips per year
- Job type: Full-time
- Benefits: 401(k)/retirement plan, health, dental and vision insurance, employee discounts, paid time off
- Where to apply: Visit Truluck’s career page
9. Phuc Yea | $11–$25 per hour
[Source: Phuc Yea]
- Position: Bartender
- About: Phuc Yea celebrates Vietnamese cuisine with the owners’ personal cooking styles. Phuc Yea is also Miami’s first pop-up concept.
- Requirements: Previous bartending experience; must be able to lift up to 50 pounds
- Salary: $22,880–$52,000 base plus tips per year
- Job type: Full-time (shifts on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays)
- Benefits: 401(k)/retirement plan, health and disability insurance, paid time off
- Where to apply: Visit Phuc Yea’s career page
10. bartaco | $9.62–$19.23 per hour
[Source: Bartaco]
- Position: Bartender/Mixologist
- About: bartaco offers specialty cocktails and upscale street tacos with a rustic, coastal vibe. It takes inspiration from the beach culture of Southern California, Brazil and Uruguay.
- Requirements: Basic math, reading and computer skills; attended ETIPS or similar training
- Salary: $20,000–$40,000 base plus tips per year
- Job type: Full-time (shifts on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays)
- Benefits: Free tacos, 401(k)/retirement plan, employee discounts, industry events, mental health counseling
- Where to apply: Visit Bartaco’s career page
Bartender Salary in Miami, FL
The average salary for a Bartender in Miami, FL is $39,270 base plus tips per year or $18.88 base plus tips per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Compare the average salaries Bartenders make in major U.S. cities.
Annual mean wage $39,270 Number of Employees 14,410
Annual mean wage $58,050 Number of Employees 31,670
Annual mean wage $35,630 Number of Employees 23,080
Annual mean wage $40,080 Number of Employees 22,530
[Source: BLS]
If you are a Bartender in Miami, try out our Florida paycheck calculator to see what your take-home pay is in this state.
Whether you’re compensated hourly or on a fixed salary basis, our calculator will help you accurately determine your earnings.
Total Tax
Net pay
Disclaimer: Please note that this paycheck calculator is designed to provide an estimate and should not be considered as professional tax advice. The actual withholding amounts and taxes owed may vary depending on individual circumstances and other factors. For accurate and personalized tax advice, we recommend consulting with a tax professional.
Tipping Trends for Bartender Jobs in Miami
Although 15% of the total bill has long been the usual tip percentage for most cities, Miami Herald lists 20% as the new standard for tipping Bartenders. This is especially the case for customers running a tab all night.
See how Miami compares to other major U.S. cities in tipping trends in our graph below.
[Source: Toast, Miami Herald]
This chart is interactive. Hover your mouse over different parts of the chart to see detailed data.
Even during happy hour, where drinks are discounted, customers are encouraged to tip as if the prices were not slashed.
Download Bartender’s Career Handbook by OysterLink
Preparing for an interview? Know the ins and outs of the Bartender interview process with our Bartender Career Handbook.
Job seekers can find the tips and tricks they need to get hired, while employers can use it as a guide for their next hiring process.
Bartender Career Outlook
The employment outlook for Bartenders is promising, with a projected growth of 3% from 2022 to 2032. This has resulted in 641,000 annual Bartender jobs on average in the U.S.
Average Number of Bartender Jobs Per State
Browse the map below to find out how many Bartenders each U.S. state employs.
[Source: BLS]
This map is interactive. Hover your mouse over different parts of the map to see detailed data.
Is Bartender the Right Role for You?
See if you have what it takes to be a Bartender by taking our quiz below.
Results
Congratulations!
Based on your responses, it seems like a career as a Bartender could be an excellent fit for you. Your skills and preferences align well with the demands of the profession.
Embrace this opportunity, and consider exploring further training or gaining hands-on experience to enhance your craft. Download our Bartender’s Salary Guide & Career Handbook for more info.
Cheers to a promising future in mixology!
There’s great potential!
While your results indicate that a career as a Bartender may not be an immediate perfect match, there’s great potential for you to excel with dedication and focused effort.
Consider investing some time in honing your skills, perhaps by attending bartending courses and workshops or gaining work experience. You can also download our Bartender’s Salary Guide & Career Handbook to learn more.
#1. Are you familiar with bartending techniques?
#2. Do you have experience with cocktail presentation and garnishing techniques (e.g., flair bartending or using specialty tools for decorations)?
#3. Are you proficient in using bartending equipment and tools, such as shakers, strainers and specialty glassware?
#4. Have you developed your cocktail recipes, and can you adapt existing recipes to create new flavors or variations?
#5. Are you dedicated to maintaining the same quality standards, even during busy or challenging times?
#6. Do you actively seek to expand your knowledge about various spirits, cocktail ingredients and mixology techniques?
#7. How do you feel about late-night hours and long shifts behind the bar?
#8. Do you enjoy working in a fast-paced and sometimes high-stress environment?
#9. How do you handle criticism and feedback about your cocktails?
Legal Requirements for Bartender Job in Miami
Bartending in Miami demands strict compliance with state and local regulations to uphold the safety and integrity of alcohol service. Prospective Bartenders must familiarize themselves with these legal requirements to ensure lawful operations and uphold professional standards.
Below, we highlight essential regulations relevant to bartending roles in Miami:
- Age requirement: In Florida, you must be 18 or over to legally work as a Bartender and serve alcoholic drinks to customers.
- Licensing requirements: Obtaining a bartending license, or alcohol service certification, is a not legal requirement for serving alcohol in the state of Florida. Still, it is advisable to have one as the state offers all sorts of benefits such as reduction in their liability insurance premiums to vendors with trained employees.
- Legal hours of operation: Under Miami-Dade County ordinance, restaurants, bars and cocktail lounges can sell alcohol between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m. on weekdays. At the same time, nightclubs are allowed to sell alcoholic beverages from 8:00 a.m. to 4:50 a.m. the following day on weekdays.
- Identification verification: Checking a customer’s ID to verify their age before serving them alcohol is a standard practice throughout the United States.
Florida statute 562.13 imposes restrictions on employment as a bartender or manager in alcohol-serving establishments.
These restrictions include:
- Recent convictions related to Florida beverage laws
- Soliciting for prostitution
- Felony violations under Chapter 893 or controlled substances acts of other states or the Federal Government within the past five years
Any felony violation in Florida or any other state in the USA also prohibits employment in such roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bartenders in Miami do not need a license to perform their role. However, some bar and restaurant owners may prefer candidates with Bartender training under Florida’s Responsible Vendor Act.
Given the city’s thriving food scene, bartending can be a lucrative side job. Plus, there are many establishments that offer part-time roles, if you can’t commit to a full-time one.
New York City bartenders earn the most with an average base salary of $58,050 per year. This is followed by Los Angeles at $40,080 per year, Miami at $39,270 per year and then Chicago at $35,630 per year .
Employers typically seek candidates with bartending experience, solid knowledge of drink preparation and excellent customer service skills.
Meeting the minimum age requirement (usually 18 or 21 years old) is essential. Employers may also prefer candidates who are charismatic, adaptable and have good communication skills.
Create a well-organized resume that highlights relevant bartending experience, including any specialized skills like mixology or cocktail crafting.
Emphasize your ability to handle high-volume situations and maintain excellent customer relations.
Keeping your resume concise and visually appealing will make it stand out to potential employers.
Bartenders often work in the evenings, on weekends and on holidays when bars and restaurants are busiest.
The schedule can vary depending on the establishment’s hours of operation and may include both full-time and part-time positions.
Flexibility is valuable in the industry as it allows you to cater to various establishments’ needs.
Before your interview, it’s important to familiarize yourself with popular cocktail recipes, practice your bartending skills and rehearse your answers to common Bartender interview questions.
Highlight your relevant bartending experience (or equivalent), ability to handle all types of customers and commitment to responsible alcohol consumption.
Some of the advantages of working as a Bartender can include:
- Flexible hours
- Potential for lucrative tips
- Engaging social interactions
On the other hand, drawbacks may include:
- Managing intoxicated customers
- Physical demands of the role
- Exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke exposure
Some of the most common cocktails a Bartender makes on a daily basis include:
- Old Fashioned: A timeless classic with bourbon or rye, sugar, bitters and a citrus twist
- Moscow Mule: A refreshing blend of vodka, ginger beer and lime juice
- Negroni: A sophisticated cocktail featuring gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, garnished with an orange twist
- Mojito: A Cuban favorite made with white rum, lime juice, mint leaves, sugar and soda water
- Whiskey Sour: A tangy blend of bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup and optionally, egg white for a frothy texture
- Daiquiri: A tropical delight made with white rum, lime juice, and simple syrup, served in a chilled cocktail glass
- Margarita: A classic Mexican cocktail featuring tequila, lime juice and orange liqueur, served with a salt-rimmed glass
- Mai Tai: A Polynesian-inspired concoction of dark and light rum, orange liqueur, lime juice and almond syrup
- Bloody Mary: A savory mix of vodka, tomato juice, spices and garnishes like celery and olives, served over ice
- Manhattan: A sophisticated blend of rye whiskey, sweet vermouth and bitters, stirred and strained into a martini glass