Bartender Salary in Kansas City, MO
Bartenders in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area earn a median $30,300 a year — 12% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,039 take-home, or $2,170 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Kansas City, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,456
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,879
- Medicare (1.45%)$439
- Missouri income tax$487
- Take-home pay$26,039
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in Kansas City, MO? City residents also pay Kansas City, MO’s Earnings Tax — about $303 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $25,736 ($2,145 a month). Choose “Kansas City, MO” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Kansas City, MO-KS metro spans Missouri, Kansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Bartender pay by experience in Kansas City, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,240 | $12.13 | $22,146 | $1,845 |
| 25th percentile | $28,600 | $13.75 | $24,753 | $2,063 |
| Median (50th) | $30,300 | $14.57 | $26,039 | $2,170 |
| 75th percentile | $44,060 | $21.18 | $36,449 | $3,037 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,110 | $29.86 | $50,104 | $4,175 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,300 buys in Kansas City, MO
Prices in Kansas City, MO are 7.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 13% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $26,039 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,137 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 Kansas City, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.92).
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Kansas City, MO ranks #28 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 |
| 28 | Kansas City, MO | $30,300 | $26,039 | $28,137 |
*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 Missouri
- St. Louis, MO — $31,200
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Kansas City, MO?
The median bartender salary in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area is $30,300 a year, or about $14.57 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,600 and $44,060.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Kansas City, MO?
On the median $30,300 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $26,039 a year ($2,170 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $487 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Kansas City, MO a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 12% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 7.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,137 would in a typical U.S. city. Kansas City, MO ranks #28 of 50 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Kansas City, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Kansas City, MO is $1,193 a month ($1,355 for two bedrooms) — 55% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Kansas City, MO
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,210
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,370
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,080
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,080
- Dishwasher — $34,800
- Food Preparation Worker — $32,230
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $30,200
- Cooks, Fast Food — $30,170
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,560
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,280