The Bar School

New York · Updated Oct 2026

How to become a bartender in New York

New York doesn't require a state bartender license, but you still need to know how to do the job. Here's your path from zero experience to your first shift, plus the rules and pay to know.

Quick answer

New York doesn't issue a bartender license. The venue holds the liquor license from the State Liquor Authority, not the bartender. You must be 18 or older to serve or bartend. Learn the job first. Server training such as TIPS is optional, but many employers like it.

Start step 1: learn to bartendBar Ready · 100% online · $197 one-time

Your path

5 steps to bartending in New York

  1. Learn to bartend

    Take Bar Ready online: tools, pours, spirits, cocktails, service and how to get hired.

  2. Earn your certificates

    Watch every lesson in full to unlock each course's certificate of completion in your dashboard. It shows employers you trained. It isn't a license.

  3. Consider server training

    New York doesn't require it, but many employers prefer a course such as TIPS or ServSafe Alcohol.

    See local rules ↓

  4. Go apply

    Put your training and certificates on your resume and apply to bars and restaurants near you.

  5. Start pouring

    Pour, serve and earn tips. In New York, tipped staff get at least $11.35/hr, and tips must bring them to $17/hr.

New York rules

New York bartending rules at a glance

Age

You must be 18 or older to serve, pour or mix alcohol in New York. Workers under 18 can bus tables or wash dishes under the direct supervision of someone 21 or older.

N.Y. Alco. Bev. Cont. Law §100

Training

New York doesn't require bartenders or servers to take alcohol training. The State Liquor Authority recommends its certified ATAP course for everyone who sells or serves alcohol, and proof of staff training can help reduce a bar's penalty after a violation, so employers may ask for it.

NY State Liquor Authority: training (ATAP) N.Y. Alco. Bev. Cont. Law §17

Rules change. Last checked October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm with the New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) and your employer before you apply.

Local rules

Where to check the rules

Liquor licenses and bartender rules come from the state, not your city or county. Minimum pay is higher in New York City, Long Island and Westchester than in the rest of the state.

NY Dept. of Labor: minimum wage

State alcohol agency

New York State Liquor Authority (SLA)

The agency that licenses and regulates alcohol sales in New York.

Open the official website

Your employer can also tell you which rules apply where you'll work.

Pay

How much do bartenders make in New York?

Median hourly$29.43$61,210 a year
Average hourly$29.65$61,670 a year
Top 10% earn more than$44.96$93,530 a year
Bartenders employed43,130May 2025 estimate
Tipped base pay$11.35/hrTips must bring you to $17/hr

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (New York, Bartenders 35-3011) and NY Dept. of Labor: 2026 cash wage and tip credit table (P717). BLS wages include tips reported by employers. What you earn depends on the venue, your shifts and your location, and isn't guaranteed.

I'm ready to get startedStep 1: Bar Ready · 100% online · $197 one-time

Jobs

Where to find bartending jobs in New York

Open bartender listings near you on Indeed. Barback and server openings are worth a look too: they're a common way behind the bar.

Behind the bar at The Bar School, answering whether the course is a license
Is this a license to bartend?1:33

The question we hear most

Is Bar Ready a New York bartending license?

  • No, and New York doesn't issue one. The venue holds the alcohol license, not the bartender.
  • Server training such as TIPS is optional, but many employers like it.
  • Each course ends with a certificate of completion. It shows employers you trained, but it isn't a license or a state certification.

Questions people ask

Becoming a bartender in New York: your questions, answered

Do you need a license to be a bartender in New York?

New York doesn't issue a bartender license. The venue holds the liquor license from the State Liquor Authority, not the bartender. You can learn the job first, then check whether your employer wants server training.

NY State Liquor Authority: get a license

How old do you have to be to bartend in New York?

You must be 18 or older to serve, pour or mix alcohol in New York. Workers under 18 can bus tables or wash dishes under the direct supervision of someone 21 or older. Employers can set a higher minimum age, so check with the bar.

N.Y. Alco. Bev. Cont. Law §100

Do you need TIPS or ServSafe certification to bartend in New York?

New York doesn't require bartenders or servers to take alcohol training. The State Liquor Authority recommends its certified ATAP course for everyone who sells or serves alcohol, and proof of staff training can help reduce a bar's penalty after a violation, so employers may ask for it.

NY State Liquor Authority: training (ATAP) N.Y. Alco. Bev. Cont. Law §17

How much do bartenders make in New York?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025), New York bartenders earned a median of $29.43 an hour and a mean of $29.65 an hour ($61,670 a year), including tips reported by employers. The top 10% earned more than $44.96 an hour. In New York City, Long Island and Westchester, employers can pay tipped bar and restaurant staff $11.35 an hour if tips bring them to at least $17.00 an hour (in the rest of the state, $10.70 and $16.00); if not, the employer makes up the difference. Pay varies by venue, shifts and location.

BLS NY Dept. of Labor: 2026 cash wage and tip credit table (P717)

Can I get a bartending job in New York with no experience?

Experience is up to each employer. Learning the fundamentals first, and being able to show you finished training, helps you stand out when you apply. That's what step 1 is for.

Where can I find bartending jobs in New York?

Search job boards like Indeed for bartender, barback and server openings in your city, check the websites and social pages of bars you'd like to work at, and drop off a resume in person when it's quiet. Barback and server jobs are a common way in. The Hamptons and Montauk, Saratoga Springs during racing season, and the Finger Lakes, Thousand Islands and Adirondacks hire extra summer staff.

Find jobs by city ↑

Do you have to go to bartending school in New York?

No. New York doesn't require bartending school. An online course lets you learn the tools, pours, cocktails and service at your own pace.

Does The Bar School offer job placement?

No. We don't place students in jobs. Bar Ready shows you what the job involves and how to get hired, with a resume guide and template and what to expect when you apply. Then you apply to bars and restaurants near you.

How long does it take to become a bartender in New York?

Bar Ready is self-paced, so you go as fast as your schedule allows. After that, timing depends on your local rules and the jobs near you.

Is the Bar School certificate a New York license or TIPS certification?

No. Your Bar School certificates of completion, one for each Bar Ready course, show employers you finished our training. They aren't a government license or permit, and they don't replace TIPS, ServSafe or any state or local requirement.

Ready to start bartending in New York?

Step 1 is learning the job. Start Bar Ready online today, at your own pace.

Start step 1: learn to bartend

Bar Ready · 100% online · $197 one-time · Certificates of completion

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