Mid-Level

Tavern Keeper

The person who runs a tavern — managing bartenders and staff, ordering beer, wine, and spirits, handling licensing and compliance, and being the senior on-the-floor operator who knows the regulars and the rhythm of the place.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
E
C
R
S
I
A
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Tavern Keepers
Employment concentration · ~373 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Tavern Keeper

Most days tend to start before opening — checking deliveries, prepping the bar, and getting the team set for service — and run through service into close. You'll often spend part of the time behind the bar or on the floor during peak hours, and part on the operational fabric of ordering, scheduling, payroll, and licensing.

The harder part is often the regulatory complexity of operating a place that serves alcohol combined with the financial reality of running a beverage-driven small business. You'll typically manage a team with significant turnover, while staying compliant with liquor laws, training requirements, and the responsibilities serving alcohol carries.

People who tend to thrive here are operationally rigorous, hospitality-grounded, and comfortable with regulatory detail. The trade-off is the schedule — taverns run nights and weekends — and the cumulative pressure of carrying licensing and safety responsibility. If you find satisfaction in running a place that becomes part of customers' social lives, the role can carry quiet, hands-on pride.

IndependenceAbove avg
RelationshipsModerate
SupportModerate
Working ConditionsModerate
AchievementModerate
RecognitionModerate
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Tavern Keepers (SOC 11-9051.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Exploring the Tavern Keeper career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$42K–$105K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
244K
U.S. Employment
+6.4%
10yr Growth
42K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$74K$71K$68K$65K$62K201920202021202220232024$62K$74K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Active ListeningSpeakingManagement of Personnel ResourcesCoordinationMonitoringService OrientationReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessTime Management
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
11-9051.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.