its all about building your resume. I made 50k for a year and 35 the year before bartending, but i drank and drove so that route is fucked. Now ive used my old bartending fun to get one of my old patrons (worked a hotel bar for 6 months and made some friends) who is helping me get into the pacific union once my shit is finally all done (dont drink and drive kids...) I can go and it's federal beni's with 30k starting, and with my plug i can avoid being in the yard and use my computer skills to have a good job (if all goes well, we know how that goes)
But like i said, i have friends with college degrees where they cant find a decent job and are bartending/serving/banquet work because its 36-40 hours in 3 days, amazing pay, but 0 benefits. Benefits are the main name of the game here nowdays.