Bartender Salary in Virginia Beach, VA
Bartenders in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median $46,700 a year — 36% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,832 take-home, or $3,153 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Virginia Beach, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,424
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,895
- Medicare (1.45%)$677
- Virginia income tax$1,871
- Take-home pay$37,832
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro spans Virginia, North Carolina. 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 Virginia Beach, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,910 | $12.94 | $23,037 | $1,920 |
| 25th percentile | $31,840 | $15.31 | $26,747 | $2,229 |
| Median (50th) | $46,700 | $22.45 | $37,832 | $3,153 |
| 75th percentile | $71,920 | $34.58 | $56,104 | $4,675 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,840 | $37.90 | $60,575 | $5,048 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,700 buys in Virginia Beach, VA
Prices in Virginia Beach, VA are 2.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $37,832 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,628 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 Virginia Beach, VA than nationally (location quotient 0.77), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Virginia Beach, VA ranks #4 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 |
*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 Virginia Beach, VA?
The median bartender salary in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $46,700 a year, or about $22.45 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,840 and $71,920.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Virginia Beach, VA?
On the median $46,700 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $37,832 a year ($3,153 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,871 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Virginia Beach, VA a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 36% above the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 2.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,628 would in a typical U.S. city. Virginia Beach, VA ranks #4 of 50 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Virginia Beach, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Virginia Beach, VA is $1,508 a month ($1,708 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach, VA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $41,800
- Waiter and Waitress — $39,020
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,440
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,280
- Food Preparation Worker — $32,580
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,330
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,780
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,670
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,380