Bartender Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Bartenders in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $36,040 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,032 take-home, or $2,503 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,145
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,234
- Medicare (1.45%)$523
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,106
- Take-home pay$30,032
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $1,348 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $28,684 ($2,390 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. 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 Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,480 | $10.33 | $18,639 | $1,553 |
| 25th percentile | $27,020 | $12.99 | $23,031 | $1,919 |
| Median (50th) | $36,040 | $17.33 | $30,032 | $2,503 |
| 75th percentile | $47,420 | $22.80 | $38,826 | $3,236 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $69,910 | $33.61 | $55,865 | $4,655 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,040 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $30,032 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,284 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 Philadelphia, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.01).
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #23 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 |
| 23 | Philadelphia, PA | $36,040 | $30,032 | $29,284 |
*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 Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, PA — $29,750
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median bartender salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $36,040 a year, or about $17.33 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,020 and $47,420.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $36,040 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $30,032 a year ($2,503 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,106 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,284 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #23 of 50 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 61% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
- Chef and Head Cook — $65,680
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,580
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,870
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,270
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,570
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,560
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $33,300
- Dishwasher — $33,270
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $32,220
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $32,220
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $32,220
- Cooks, Fast Food — $32,220