Template
This template fits bartenders at restaurants, pubs, hotels and event venues. Mention your style of service and drink program.
Bartender
[Company name], [City, Province]
[Full-time / Part-time], [schedule]
About us
[Company name] [one or two sentences on what you do, who your customers are and how big the team is].
What you'll do
- Prepare and serve drinks to our recipes and standards.
- Take orders and process payments accurately.
- Check ID and refuse service to anyone under 19.
- Serve alcohol responsibly and refuse service to intoxicated guests.
- Open and close the bar, including prep, stocking and cleaning.
- Help with inventory counts and ordering.
- Recommend drinks and help create a great guest experience.
What you bring
- Smart Serve certification.
- Bartending experience is an asset. [Cocktail knowledge required or an asset].
- Comfort handling cash and payments.
- Ability to work quickly and stay friendly during busy service.
- Availability for [evenings, weekends and holidays].
Pay and benefits
[$X.XX to $Y.YY] per hour, plus [tips, staff meals, benefits].
How to apply
Send your resume to [email or application link]. [Add the Ontario disclosures from the builder below if you have 25 or more employees.]
Bartender pay by province
Hourly wages Job Bank reports for bartenders (NOC 64301). Use the median as a starting point for an experienced hire and the low end for entry level.
| Province or territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | $17.60* | $20.00 | $30.00 |
| British Columbia | $17.85 | $20.00 | $30.59 |
| Alberta | $15.00 | $20.00 | $35.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $15.35 | $17.00 | $25.00 |
| Manitoba | $16.00 | $17.00 | $25.00 |
| Quebec | $16.10 | $22.44 | $40.00 |
| New Brunswick | $15.65 | $16.23 | $27.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $16.50 | $18.00 | $25.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.00 | $17.00 | $20.00 |
| Canada | $15.00 | $20.00 | $30.00 |
Ontario by region
| Region | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa | $17.60* | $19.73 | $30.53 |
| Kingston–Pembroke | $17.60* | $17.60* | $35.00 |
| Toronto | $17.60* | $20.00 | $30.00 |
| Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie | $17.60* | $20.00 | $33.00 |
| Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula | $17.60* | $20.00 | $35.00 |
| London | $17.60* | $20.00 | $30.00 |
| Windsor–Sarnia | $17.60* | $18.00 | $30.00 |
| Northeast | $17.60* | $19.00 | $42.00 |
| Northwest | $17.60* | $19.00 | $30.00 |
Source: Job Bank wages for NOC 64301, Bartenders, reference period 2023-2024, revised November 19, 2025. * Below Ontario's current general minimum wage of $17.95 per hour (since October 1, 2026). You must pay at least the minimum wage.
Turn it into an Ontario job posting
If you have 25 or more employees, publicly advertised postings in Ontario must include pay, say whether the job is an existing vacancy, and disclose AI screening. Fill this in and copy the result.
With fewer than 25 employees these rules don't apply to you yet, but following them makes your posting more competitive and keeps you ready when you grow.
Ontario rules checkHiring a bartender in Ontario: what comes next
The posting is step one. These are the obligations most small businesses run into between the offer and the first few weeks.
- Follow up with everyone you interviewEmployers with 25+ employees must tell interviewed applicants whether the job has been filled within 45 days of their last interview, and keep postings and records for three years.
- Put the offer in a written employment contractA written contract isn't mandatory in Ontario, but without one your termination costs are set by the courts rather than by you. The termination clause is the part to get right.
- Register with WSIB if your industry requires itMost Ontario employers must register within 10 days of hiring their first worker. A few industries are exempt, so check before the start date.
- Collect payroll documentsGet the employee's SIN within three days of their start date, plus federal and Ontario TD1 forms for tax withholding.
- Hand over the Employment Standards posterGive new employees the current "Employment Standards in Ontario" poster within 30 days of their start date.
- Complete health and safety awareness trainingEvery worker needs basic health and safety awareness training as soon as practicable after starting.
- Confirm Smart Serve before the first bar shiftAnyone who sells or serves alcohol in a licensed establishment in Ontario needs approved server training, such as Smart Serve.
- Pass tips through in fullOntario employers can't keep tips or make deductions from them, except to redistribute them through a tip pool.
- Have written harassment and violence policiesRequired once you regularly have six or more workers, and reviewed every year.
Hiring a bartender?
Our HR team prepares the employment contract, onboarding documents and policies for Ontario employers, with a flat monthly price and no long-term contract.
Questions employers ask
What does a bartender do?
A bartender prepares and serves drinks, takes payment, checks ID, serves alcohol responsibly and keeps the bar stocked and clean.
How much does a bartender make in Ontario?
Job Bank reports $17.60 (low), $20.00 (median) and $30.00 (high) per hour for bartenders in Ontario, and a median of $20.00 in the Toronto region (reference period 2023-2024, revised November 19, 2025). Ontario's general minimum wage is $17.95 per hour as of October 1, 2026. Pay at least the minimum wage, even where Job Bank's low figure is lower.
What is the NOC code for a bartender?
The National Occupational Classification code for this role is NOC 64301, Bartenders (TEER 4). Use the code that matches the actual duties.
Do I have to include pay in an Ontario job posting?
Yes, if you have 25 or more employees. Since January 1, 2026, publicly advertised postings must include the expected pay or a range no wider than $50,000. They must also say whether the posting is for an existing vacancy and disclose if AI is used to screen, assess or select applicants, and they can't require Canadian work experience.
Do bartenders need Smart Serve in Ontario?
Yes. Anyone who sells or serves alcohol in a licensed establishment in Ontario needs approved server training, and Smart Serve is the recognized program.
Last updated October 2026. Sources:
- Job Bank wages, NOC 64301
- Ontario minimum wage
- Your guide to the Employment Standards Act (Ontario)
- National Occupational Classification
This page is general information for employers, not legal advice. Rules change, so check the official sources before you post.