Bartender Salary in Sacramento, CA
Bartenders in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area earn a median $35,510 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,841 take-home, or $2,487 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Sacramento, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,081
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,202
- Medicare (1.45%)$515
- California income tax$410
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$462
- Take-home pay$29,841
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Bartender pay by experience in Sacramento, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,320 | $16.50 | $28,948 | $2,412 |
| 25th percentile | $34,660 | $16.66 | $29,203 | $2,434 |
| Median (50th) | $35,510 | $17.07 | $29,841 | $2,487 |
| 75th percentile | $46,160 | $22.19 | $37,834 | $3,153 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,480 | $39.17 | $61,744 | $5,145 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,510 buys in Sacramento, CA
Prices in Sacramento, CA are 6.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.30× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $29,841 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,975 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 Sacramento, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.77), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Sacramento, CA ranks #30 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 |
| 30 | Sacramento, CA | $35,510 | $29,841 | $27,975 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $42,270
- San Francisco, CA — $39,670
- Riverside, CA — $34,840
- San Diego, CA — $36,260
- Los Angeles, CA — $35,510
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Sacramento, CA?
The median bartender salary in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area is $35,510 a year, or about $17.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,660 and $46,160.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Sacramento, CA?
On the median $35,510 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $29,841 a year ($2,487 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $871 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Sacramento, CA a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 6.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,975 would in a typical U.S. city. Sacramento, CA ranks #30 of 50 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Sacramento, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Sacramento, CA is $1,812 a month ($2,241 for two bedrooms) — 73% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Sacramento, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,840
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,230
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,860
- Cooks, Fast Food — $42,210
- Food Preparation Worker — $38,480
- Dishwasher — $36,930
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $36,110
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,070