by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 8 U.S. colleges awarded 171 degrees and certificates in Bartending/Bartender. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 92% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $24,237 one year after completing, rising to $36,678 after four years.
Studying 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.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., bartending/bartender is a popular field of study, with 171 degrees awarded annually. 8 colleges award bartending/bartender degrees, an average of 21 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 116.
By level, the 171 awards include 10 certificates and 157 master’s degrees.
Women earned 52% of bartending/bartender degrees and certificates in the latest year (89 of 171). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are Hispanic or Latino (158) and White (6).
The most common bartending/bartender credential is the master’s degree: 157 of the 171 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to bartending/bartender call most for Active Listening, Service Orientation and Social Perceptiveness, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, English Language and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Near Vision.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long a bartending/bartender degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 10 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 157 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to bartending/bartender, at 43.0%.
| 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% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Bartending/Bartender, with an average median salary of $28,151; the strongest outlook belongs to Bartenders, at 12.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Service Bartender, Barman, Barkeeper and Bar Tender.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to bartending/bartender, at 586,986.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Bartenders | 586,986 | 12.2% |
Bartending/Bartender graduates earn a median $24,237 one year after completing their program, $36,678 after four years and $32,093 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $24,237 |
| 4 years | $36,678 |
| 5 years | $32,093 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to bartending/bartender, with a median salary of $28,151.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Bartenders | $28,151 |
Bartending/Bartender has 11 similar majors in the Personal & Culinary Services field, which together award 25,665 degrees a year; the largest are Culinary Arts/Chef Training (11,809), Baking and Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef (5,575) and Culinary Arts and Related Services (4,439). Browse all Personal & Culinary Services majors or the full list of college majors.
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