Although entry-level restaurant and bar experience is enough for some bar managers to succeed, a degree in this field offers a huge career advantage. A four-year bachelor's degree in restaurant and hospitality management shows employers that an individual is competent in the industry and thus can lead to advancement. These degree programs more commonly are available through culinary and hospitality schools than at universities and colleges. Students also can choose to complete a two-year associate degree program in food service and beverage management. Degree programs in this field usually offer an internship experience.
As bar managing becomes more common, many colleges and universities are beginning to offer two-year certificate programs in the field. Other more short-term certification programs also are available, many of them online. In this type of program, students complete homework assignments that allow them to apply their knowledge to actual current operations and learn a variety of management practices and pitfalls. They then must complete field assignments at the end of each course section to get hands-on experience at a bar.
Classes in a bar management training program cover topics such as accounting and inventory management, restaurant planning, basic computers, general business ethics, nutrition and sanitation laws. Other courses focus on bartending, beverage purchasing, communication/cultural sensitivity, marketing and even computer software programs such as Microsoft Word and Excel. Certification courses additionally might cover trend forecasting, licensing, menu design, contract negotiations, pricing and industry liabilities. Classes on glassware, purchasing/vendor relations and even theft protection/control are topics as well. Hospitality and restaurant management programs offer additional training in aspects of managing a restaurant facility as well as overseeing the kitchen and dining room environments of an establishment.
With training in bar management, an individual can choose to work in bars, clubs, hotels, casinos or restaurants. Advancement opportunities also are more prevalent in larger chain bars and restaurants as opposed to independently owned establishments.
Employment of food service managers, which includes bar managers, is projected to increase 5 percent from 2008 to 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average bar manager salary in 2010 was $49,000, according to SimplyHired.com.