Bartender Salary in Cleveland, OH
Bartenders in the Cleveland, OH metro area earn a median $33,470 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,935 take-home, or $2,411 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Cleveland, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,836
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,075
- Medicare (1.45%)$485
- Ohio income tax$138
- Take-home pay$28,935
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Cleveland? City residents also pay Cleveland’s city income tax — about $837 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $28,098 ($2,342 a month). Choose “Cleveland” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Bartender pay by experience in Cleveland, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,000 | $11.06 | $20,551 | $1,713 |
| 25th percentile | $25,220 | $12.13 | $22,379 | $1,865 |
| Median (50th) | $33,470 | $16.09 | $28,935 | $2,411 |
| 75th percentile | $43,350 | $20.84 | $36,602 | $3,050 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,060 | $35.13 | $59,001 | $4,917 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,470 buys in Cleveland, OH
Prices in Cleveland, OH are 6.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $28,935 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,807 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 about as common in Cleveland, OH as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.15).
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Cleveland, OH ranks #17 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 |
| 17 | Cleveland, OH | $33,470 | $28,935 | $30,807 |
*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.
Bartender salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Columbus, OH — $37,000
- Cincinnati, OH — $34,240
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Cleveland, OH?
The median bartender salary in the Cleveland, OH metro area is $33,470 a year, or about $16.09 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $25,220 and $43,350.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Cleveland, OH?
On the median $33,470 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $28,935 a year ($2,411 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $138 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Cleveland, OH a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 6.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,807 would in a typical U.S. city. Cleveland, OH ranks #17 of 50 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Cleveland, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Cleveland, OH is $1,048 a month ($1,268 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Cleveland, OH
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,700
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,060
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,930
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,260
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,360
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $30,350
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,400
- Dishwasher — $29,360
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,750
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $27,060