Do you think it is possible to make more money bartending, than getting a job using a physics degree?

In the short run yes, in the long run no. If you consider that bartending jobs are easily obtainable, while jobs as a physicist are relatively hard to come by. So while looking for a job she could make more money. However, once she got a job over the next 3-5 years she would be making more in a technical career. Then from years 5+ she should be able to make more than double she would bartending. Now, thats not to say that very good bartenders at some of the swankiest places in the planet cant make outstanding money, but this doesnt sound like the case. (for example I believe there is a 'champagne lounge' in the Miami area where the hostesses can bring in 6 six figures.) Two things to note, she should focus on finding a job that interests her. Since she majored in physics, one would assume she would like a technical job (scientist, engineer, etc). So she shouldn't limit her search to jobs with 'physicist' in the title. The other item, which is more worrisome in my opinion, is the general lack of motivation to aspire to do something more with her life. If all she aspires to do is work as a bartender, then fine, there is nothing wrong with that. But that doesnt sound like she has come to terms with that yet. If she really does want to do something else with her life, she needs to start working on that now, not later.

It depend. Physics jobs are really hard to find because most of them are government or lab jobs. Unless you have a physics degree in an Ivy Legaue school or something in that area, your job will end up being a low importance not very good paying job.

There really aren't any "physics" jobs available with just an undergraduate degree. Unless she gets a PhD, and has a lot of luck, she's probably better off bartending (if the tips are good).

Depends. When I was a server in a restaurant, I made $10,000 annually more than most of the servers because I knew how to make the money. Maybe she is the same way. You may not be as good as she is, so you'd make less. It also depends on what jobs are out there for you.

I think she must not be very good at physics. Her grades must have been pretty poor. I bet her parents are "very proud" of her. HA!

My best friend's cousin has an engineering degree that he doesn't use. He also became a bartender after college. So they must make pretty good money. Sometimes people get their degree and then decide that they don't want to use it. I knew a mathematician, brilliant guy by the way, who after college decided he would rather join a seminary and become a preacher than use his degree.

I think people should do what they love to do, regardless of the money, but that is just my opinion. I think that you can have a job in physics and supplement your income by bartending on the weekends if you really need extra money. There are some jobs in physics that pay a lot, and some that pay next to nothing. She is probably right if the only job she could get is being some sort of lab technician, but if she has a masters or PhD then clearly she could be making more money with those degrees. But just a bachelor's in physics, maybe not.