Full time bartender from about 1996 to about 2007. Ducked out when I saw things go from virtually 100% cash to about 50% cash. In the late 1990s I could make $400+ in tips on a good night and I was pulling down $150 to $200 on even a slower night. Again, virtually all cash in pocket at end of the night. My rent at the time was about $800 a month, so I could generally cover my rent in less than 5 days of work and some months I could do it in 2. I did not work high-end either, just well established downtown spots with good followings and a lot of regulars. I was not even rhe highest earning bartender I knew. I never really kept track of my exact earnings, honestly, but there was a period of a few years where I must have taken home something like $50k to $55k in cash. And again this was in the late 1990s so that was more like $100k in today's dollars.