Image that illustrates Barchef

Barchef

30 000 kr

Bartenders

25 900 - 34 100 kr / month

Women earn 92% of what men do.

Hotell, restaurang

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Barchef

Average salary 30 000 kr
Males 30 900 kr
Females 28 500 kr

What does a Bar Manager do? – Tasks and Work Environment

A Bar Manager is responsible for leading and developing the bar operations at restaurants, hotels, or nightclubs. Tasks include staff planning, purchasing beverages, ensuring quality of service and drink offerings, and maintaining financial targets. The role also involves ensuring guests receive high service levels, managing schedules, and introducing new cocktail recipes or promotions. The work environment is often fast-paced, social, and sometimes stressful, as shifts often coincide with evenings, weekends, and holidays when bar demand is highest.

Salary Development Over Time

The salary development for Bar Managers has varied over recent years. In 2022, the average salary was 27,100 SEK, while 2023 saw a clear increase to 31 400 SEK, representing approximately a 16% increase. However, in 2024, the average salary has decreased to 30 000 SEK, a drop of about 4.5% from the previous year. This decline can be explained by market adjustments following a period of unusually high demand for experienced Bar Managers, while new positions with lower starting salaries have also emerged. Salary levels in this sector are often affected by factors such as seasonal variations, economic conditions, and changing consumption within the restaurant and bar industry.

Bar Manager Salary – Complete Overview

  • Average salary: 30 000 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 25,900 SEK/month (female, high school vocational training)
  • Highest salary: 34,100 SEK/month (male, private sector, post-secondary education)
  • Hourly wage: 180 SEK/hour
  • Men earn: 30 900 SEK/month
  • Women earn: 28 500 SEK/month (92% of men's salary)

Education and Qualifications

The path to becoming a Bar Manager often involves practical experience as a bartender combined with education in hospitality or hotel management. Formal requirements vary, but many employers seek candidates with leadership experience, beverage knowledge, and service skills. Short vocational training courses and certifications can be advantageous, as well as courses in management and economics.

  • Hospitality and Food Service Program: High school, 3 years
  • Post-secondary courses: Beverage and drink knowledge, leadership (6–12 months)
  • Internships: Often necessary, either through education or directly at the workplace
  • Certifications: e.g., responsible alcohol service
  • Leadership experience: Meritorious during recruitment

Working as a Bar Manager often requires being both creative and organized – it’s common for Bar Managers to develop signature cocktails or themed nights to create unique guest experiences. The role also demands the ability to quickly solve unexpected problems, such as staff absence or supply issues, making the profession varied and challenging.

– statsskuld.se

Common Benefits and Compensation

Bar Managers are often offered benefits such as overtime pay for evening and weekend work, staff discounts, wellness allowances, and sometimes bonuses linked to bar sales targets. Many employers also provide training and opportunities for career development within the company.

Competition and Challenges

The market for Bar Managers is competitive, especially in larger cities where many seek employment at popular bars and restaurants. The lack of formal education requirements means many enter the profession through experience, increasing competition for available positions. Working hours can be demanding and the work environment stressful, particularly during weekends and holidays. Challenges also include managing staff turnover and staying updated on new trends in the beverage industry. Success requires passion for service, structured work habits under pressure, and the ability to inspire and motivate teams. It’s also important to be proactive in creating new concepts or events. Being meticulous and well-organized is advantageous to ensure both financial and quality standards are maintained.

Tips for Aspiring Bar Managers

To succeed as a Bar Manager, having a genuine interest in service and beverage culture combined with leadership skills is beneficial. Gaining experience as a bartender provides valuable insight into daily operations and helps develop problem-solving abilities, crucial in unexpected situations. Good communication and attentiveness ease staff management and customer interactions. Continuing education in beverage knowledge and management increases chances of securing a Bar Manager position. Flexibility and resilience are important, as the work often involves quick shifts and high tempo. The ability to inspire and motivate your team, as well as taking initiative for new concepts or events, are key. Attention to detail and organizational skills are also essential to ensure high standards in both economy and quality.

Key Facts about Bar Managers

  • Education level: High school or post-secondary in hospitality
  • Work environment: Fast-paced and social, often evenings and weekends
  • Typical employment: Full-time, sometimes hourly employment
  • Job openings: 123 advertised positions within the profession
  • Gender salary differences: Women earn 92% of what men do

Career Paths and Future Outlook

After 3–5 years as a Bar Manager, opportunities may open for managing larger bar operations, advancing to restaurant management, or specializing in beverage procurement and training. Some choose to start their own bar or consultancy in beverage education. According to the Swedish Public Employment Service, no specific forecast exists for Bar Managers due to limited data, but the profession of bartenders had 123 job openings in the latest survey. The future is influenced by economic conditions, tourism, and changing consumption habits, but development opportunities are good for those combining experience with further education and leadership skills.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bar Managers

  • What does a Bar Manager earn?
    - The average salary for a Bar Manager is 30 000 SEK per month.
  • Are there salary differences between men and women?
    - Yes, women earn on average 28 500 SEK while men earn 30 900 SEK.
  • What education is required to become a Bar Manager?
    - Typically, high school vocational training in hospitality and experience as a bartender, sometimes supplemented with leadership courses.
  • What is the work environment like for a Bar Manager?
    - The environment is often fast-paced, social, and occurs during evenings and weekends.
  • What are the highest and lowest salaries for a Bar Manager?
    - The highest salary is 34,100 SEK and the lowest 25,900 SEK per month.
  • Are there many job openings for Bar Managers?
    - Currently, there are 123 available positions within the profession.
  • What are the future prospects for Bar Managers?
    - No exact forecast exists, but opportunities are influenced by economic conditions and consumption patterns.

Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Barchef is 34100 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Privately employed officials with a post-secondary education, less than 3 years. The highest salary for a woman in this profession is 29900 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Barchef is 25900 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Multiple sectors. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 28900 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 89% 26100 kr 28300 kr
25-34 95% 28600 kr 31400 kr
35-44 28200 kr 30100 kr
Snitt 92% 27800 kr 30000 kr
Salary per sector
Salary based on education
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About the data

All information displayed on this page is based on data from the Swedish Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB), the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish employment agency. Learn more about our data and data sources here.

All figures are gross salaries, meaning salaries before tax. The average salary, or mean salary, is calculated by adding up the total salary for all individuals within the profession and dividing it by the number of individuals. For specific job categories, we have also considered various criteria such as experience and education.

Profession Barchef has the SSYK code 5132, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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