Bartenders vs Fast Food & Counter Workers
Median pay is about $3k higher for Bartenders. Both usually start with the same education: no formal credential.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Bartenders | Fast Food & Counter Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $34,340, higher | $31,200 |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $27,400 | $27,700, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $47,570, higher | $36,070 |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +5.0% Growing fast | +5.8% Growing fast, higher |
| Openings a year | 121,200 | 827,400 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | No formal credential | No formal credential |
| Difficulty modeled | 2 / 5 | 1.4 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Low | Low |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 11th pct | 16th pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Bartenders
- Active Learning
Only Fast Food & Counter Workers
- Writing
Both lean on active listening, speaking, critical thinking, reading comprehension, monitoring.
More comparisons
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.