Bartender Salary in Atlanta, GA
Bartenders in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $23,350 a year — 32% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $20,250 take-home, or $1,687 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$725
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,448
- Medicare (1.45%)$339
- Georgia income tax$589
- Take-home pay$20,250
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 5.19% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Bartender pay by experience in Atlanta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,290 | $7.83 | $14,802 | $1,234 |
| 25th percentile | $20,050 | $9.64 | $17,703 | $1,475 |
| Median (50th) | $23,350 | $11.23 | $20,250 | $1,687 |
| 75th percentile | $36,950 | $17.76 | $30,574 | $2,548 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,640 | $23.87 | $40,112 | $3,343 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $23,350 buys in Atlanta, GA
Prices in Atlanta, GA are 0.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.11× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $20,250 take-home pay has the buying power of $20,238 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Bartender jobs are less concentrated in Atlanta, GA than nationally (location quotient 0.67), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Atlanta, GA ranks #49 of 50 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $58,180 | $48,928 | $44,026 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $61,220 | $48,661 | $43,230 |
| 3 | Buffalo, NY | $46,920 | $37,944 | $39,589 |
| 4 | Virginia Beach, VA | $46,700 | $37,832 | $38,628 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $46,940 | $38,932 | $37,682 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $48,030 | $39,056 | $35,870 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $45,590 | $35,652 | $33,819 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $37,000 | $31,674 | $33,178 |
| 49 | Atlanta, GA | $23,350 | $20,250 | $20,238 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 50 metros →
About the job: bartenders
Mix and serve drinks to patrons, directly or through waitstaff.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.0% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Atlanta, GA?
The median bartender salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $23,350 a year, or about $11.23 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $20,050 and $36,950.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?
On the median $23,350 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $20,250 a year ($1,687 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $589 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 32% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $20,238 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #49 of 50 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Atlanta, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Atlanta, GA is $1,646 a month ($1,806 for two bedrooms) — 98% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Atlanta, GA
- Chef and Head Cook — $74,660
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,240
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,230
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,080
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,090
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $33,560
- Dishwasher — $31,780
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,470
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,560
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,780
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,940
- Waiter and Waitress — $18,460