Barback Job Description, Key Duties and Responsibilities

This post presents detailed information on the barback job description, including the key duties, tasks, and responsibilities they typically perform.

It also highlights the major requirements you may be asked to fulfill to be hired for the barback role.

What Does a Barback Do?

A barback assists other bar staff by ensuring that services run smoothly in restaurants, event venues, catering halls, clubs, and other establishments that serve alcohol.

The barback job description entails stocking the bar, keeping areas clean, and preparing garnishes; organizing supplies and assisting other bartenders so that the bar service runs smoothly.

It also involves keeping the bar clean and stocked by helping the bartenders and other staff. This includes restocking the bar, cleaning spills, emptying ashtrays, and filling ice buckets.

They organize supplies such as glasses and bottles according to type and size so that bartenders can easily find what they need when serving customers.

Barbacks maintain control of wine and liquor by helping bartenders keep track of which bottles are being used.

They assist bartenders by setting up shots, mixing ingredients, handling garnishes, and pouring drinks.

For example, they set up glasses and napkins on a tray before the bartender serves clients; they also open bottles of beer or wine to give bartenders more time to interact with customers.

The barback is responsible for cleaning the glasses, mugs, and other utensils used by the guests at the premises.

Barbacks are tasked to do this after each service and before the staff leaves for the day.

They replace empty bottles and cans with full ones from the storeroom. This is done every time a waiter or waitress brings a new order of drinks or food items for customers.

The barback work description also involves checking drinks and food items and ensuring that they do not go bad.

It also entails ensuring that no food or drink is left on the table for more than 3 minutes after a customer has finished with it.

Cleaning up tables, washing down tap stands, and wiping down walls and floors, and mopping up the floor after a service is a task they also perform.

Barbacks ensure that the condiments used by waiters at work are stocked properly and free from spoils in the kitchen.

They ensure that their work station is clean and tidy at all times. This includes wiping the counter and any surfaces, wiping down window sills, and cleaning glass doors and sinks.

One of their duties involves making sure that the bottle opener and soda guns are well-stocked at all times.

They clean items like wipes, mops, cloths, and all other materials used in cleaning the bar area, kitchen or any public area.

The barback has a duty to wipe off all spills on carpets or mats inside the bar area. This is done by replacing dirty ones with clean ones immediately after each service and before the staff leaves for the day.

Barbacks dust tables and chairs after every service, and clean glasses and other utensils used by customers in the bar area.

Barback Job Description Sample/Example/Template

The barback job description consists of the following duties, tasks, and responsibilities:

• Check in and check out customers, guests or employees
• Take care of liquor, wine, beer, and water
• Provide service to customers
• Keep the bar clean and pay attention to its decoration
• Keep track of the movement of guests and employees in the bar
• Assist bartenders in other duties that they need
• Interact with guests as required or as assigned by the bartender/manager
• Clean the tables and wash the dishes/utensils left by customers
• Assist guests with special requests
• Assign tasks to bartenders for the day
• Assist with floor openings and closing procedures
• Check in guests, register them, and prepare them for drinks, check their credit cards for payment or charge their accounts accordingly, schedule the table for their reservation and seat them at a table
• Take orders from the customers or ask them how they want their drinks (i.e. what they would like to have) and serve them
• Measure the quality of the drinks and the amount of alcohol in them
• Check whether the guests have their I.D.’s or not
• Maintain a neat, clean, and organized appearance while working
• Engage in conversation with Registered Guest customers to learn about their stay and preferences and offer them any other services that they may need
• Perform other tasks as required or as assigned by the bartender/manager.

Barback Job Description for Resume

If you have worked before as a barback or are presently working in that role and are making a new resume, then you can craft an effective Professional Experience section for your resume by applying the sample barback job description provided above.

You can express the duties and responsibilities you have performed or are currently carrying out as a barback in your resume’s Professional Experience by utilizing the ones in the above barback job description example.

This will show to recruiters/employers that you have been successful performing the barback duties and responsibilities, which can greatly boost your chances of being hired for the new job, especially if it requires someone with some barback work experience.

Barback Requirements: Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities for a Successful Career

Here are important requirements you may be expected to meet to be hired for the barback job by most employers/recruiters:

• Ability to stand for long hours
• Honest and accurate in calculating the consumption of liquor, wine, beer, and water
• Ability to communicate with guests, employees and other bar staffs with ease and be friendly with them
• Self-motivated with the ability to work effectively fast-paced and demanding environment
• Ability to follow the guidelines given by the bartender and management on how to handle customers and how to serve them drinks
• Bartender’s license is an added advantage
• Ability to attend and participate in meetings with the management regarding new policies
• Emotionally mature enough to handle pressure effectively
• No criminal records (i.e. theft, drug possession or use, and violence)
• Good hygiene and a neat appearance while working
• Well-mannered, pleasant and responsible personality.

Barback Salary

According to Glassdoor, the estimated total pay for a barback in the United States is $52,143 per year, with an average salary of $32,619 per year.

Conclusion

The barback is the unsung hero of the bar industry. They are the backbone of any successful bar business, whether small or large.

All other staffs (not just waiters or bartenders) are dependent on the barback to ensure everything goes smoothly.

This post is helpful to individuals interested in the barback career.

They can learn all they need to know about the duties and responsibilities the barback typically performs, to decide if that’s the job they want to do.

It is also useful to recruiters/employers in making a detailed job description for the barback position, for use in hiring for the role.