NYC restaurant jobs
Barback jobs in NYC
Barbacks keep the bar stocked and moving: ice, glassware, kegs, garnishes and restocking so bartenders can keep serving. It is physical work and a common first step toward bartending.
Free for workers. Takes about 60 seconds.
What barbacks usually look for
- Enough shifts per week, especially on busy nights.
- A bar where the team will teach you and let you step up over time.
- Clear information on how barbacks share in tips.
- A commute that works for late closes.
Searching for barback work in NYC
- Expect to lift cases and move stock up and down stairs, since many NYC bars keep storage in the basement.
- Being fast, organized and dependable is often valued more than prior experience.
- If you want to bartend later, say so. See bartender jobs for what that path looks like.
Borough and location flexibility
Relay asks which borough you want to work in first: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, or anywhere in NYC. After that you can pick the areas you prefer, or skip it. Being honest about your commute helps, because a job that looks good on paper is not a fit if getting home after close is hard.
Schedule and pay preferences
Barback shifts mostly follow the bar's busiest nights. In Relay you can share the nights you can work and the lowest hourly base you would accept. Relay does not estimate tips.
How Relay works
- Tell Relay what job you want once: your role, the part of NYC you want to work in, and how to reach you.
- Add schedule, pay and experience later if you want. It is optional and you can skip it.
- When an opportunity looks like a fit for what you told us, we contact you. You decide what to pursue.
- Relay is free for workers. There is no account or password. Relay does not guarantee a job.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need experience to barback?
- Often not. Many bars train barbacks on the job.
- Can barbacking lead to bartending?
- It can, depending on the venue. Being clear about your goals helps us look for places where that is realistic.
- Do I need to create an account?
- No. Signup takes your first name, phone, role and area.
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Helpful guides
Tell Relay what job you want
Relay connects you to relevant openings. It does not guarantee employment.
Free for workers. Takes about 60 seconds.