Bartender in Austria: pay, duties, how to apply

As a bartender you mix cocktails and long drinks, advise guests, take payment and keep the bar clean. The collective agreement does not list bartenders separately; from 1 October 2026 your minimum pay depends on training and responsibility: everywhere at least €2,096.50 gross per month without training; in Tyrol, Salzburg, Vorarlberg and Carinthia €2,232.00 with an apprenticeship and €2,440.00 as head bartender. Work after midnight earns a night supplement.

Key facts at a glance

Head bartender (pay group 2): €2,440.00 gross/month in Tyrol, Salzburg, Vorarlberg, Carinthia
With apprenticeship (pay group 3): From €2,232.00 gross/month, e.g. restaurant specialist
Without training (pay group 5): From €2,096.50 gross/month
Night supplement: €9.50 per time block between 0:01 and 6:00, at most €28.50
Training: None regulated; courses e.g. at WIFI
Languages: English and other languages wanted in tourist areas
Season: Winter November to April, summer May to October
Working hours: 40 hours a week (full time under the collective agreement)
Room and meals: Depends on the employer; see our guide “Seasonal work in Austria”

What does a bartender do?

You make drinks: cocktails, long drinks, wine and coffee, from a recipe or as the guest wishes. You choose the right glass and garnish. Before your shift you prepare ingredients, ice and chilled drinks.

You advise guests, take orders and take payment. After your shift you clean the bar, check stock and help with ordering and stocktaking.

Do I need training to be a bartender?

No, there is no regulated training. Many people learn on the job. According to the AMS, an apprenticeship as a restaurant specialist or a tourism school is an advantage.

Courses help you get started. The AMS names, for example, the bartender diploma course at WIFI with 64 lessons. You need nimble hands, a memory for recipes, cleanliness and you should enjoy dealing with guests.

How much do bartenders earn?

The collective agreement only lists the head bartender as its own example. Otherwise you are usually graded by training, as in service. The amounts apply from 1 October 2026, gross, for 40 hours a week, up to the 5th year of service.

Head bartender (pay group 2): €2,440.00 in Tyrol, Salzburg, Vorarlberg and Carinthia; €2,328.00 in Styria and Vienna restaurants and bars; €2,557.00 in Vienna hotels
With a relevant apprenticeship, e.g. restaurant specialist (pay group 3): €2,232.00 in Tyrol, Salzburg and Vorarlberg; €2,330.00 in Vienna hotels
Helper without training, under 10 years in the industry (pay group 5): €2,096.50
Get your pay group in writing in your contract.

How is night work paid?

Bars often stay open late. For work between 0:01 and 2:00, 2:01 and 4:00, and 4:01 and 6:00, the collective agreement gives €9.50 each, at most €28.50 per night. If you work more than 40 hours, overtime gets a 50% supplement.

Where do bartenders work in the season?

According to the AMS, employers are bars, clubs, restaurants, hotels and holiday resorts, discos and casinos.

How do I apply as a bartender?

Say what kind of bar you worked in: hotel bar, cocktail bar, club or après-ski. Add how many guests you served per shift and whether you worked alone or in a team behind the bar.

Attach courses and diplomas. List your languages with levels; according to the AMS, good English and other foreign languages are wanted especially in tourist regions.

What do I need to sort out before I start?

Address registration, health insurance registration, staff rooms, the regions with the most guests and unemployment benefit between seasons are explained in our guide “Seasonal work in Austria”.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does a bartender earn in Austria?

It depends on your training. From 1 October 2026 at least €2,096.50 gross per month without training, in Tyrol, Salzburg, Vorarlberg and Carinthia €2,232.00 with an apprenticeship and €2,440.00 as head bartender; in Styria and Vienna restaurants and bars €2,328.00 as head bartender. Night supplement and pro rata holiday and Christmas pay come on top.

Can I start behind the bar without experience?

Yes, many people learn on the job. A course, for example the diploma course at WIFI, makes it easier.

Do I get extra pay for night work?

Yes. For work between 0:01 and 6:00 there is €9.50 per time block, at most €28.50 per night.

Which languages do I need at the bar?

English and, especially in tourist areas, other foreign languages. German helps you in the team and with guests from Austria and Germany.

Sources

Information without guarantee, as of October 2026