$ PaycheckDecoded

Bartender Salary

Bartenders earn a median $34,340 a year nationally. Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations

U.S. median
$34,340
$16.51 per hour
Range
$20,110 – $73,770
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
756,390
across the U.S.

Bartender take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Bartender
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$29,772
per year · effective tax rate 13.3%
$2,481Monthly
$1,241Twice a month
$1,145Every 2 weeks
$14.31Hourly
  • Federal income tax$1,941
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,129
  • Medicare (1.45%)$498
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$29,772

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$20,110$9.67$18,171
25th percentile$27,400$13.17$24,174
Median (50th)$34,340$16.51$29,772
75th percentile$47,570$22.87$40,402
90th percentile (top earners)$73,770$35.47$60,727

Best cities for bartenders (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Kahului, HI$86,280$64,501$58,962800
2Urban Honolulu, HI$75,340$57,636$51,9432,130
3Kennewick, WA$55,820$47,031$46,994600
4Bellingham, WA$56,110$47,264$45,739600
5Seattle, WA$58,180$48,928$44,0269,640
6New York, NY$61,220$48,661$43,23038,510
7Bremerton, WA$53,810$45,416$43,005560
8Portland, ME$54,170$43,231$42,4421,780
9Spokane, WA$50,210$42,524$42,3771,100
10Binghamton, NY$47,950$38,716$41,691640
11Olympia, WA$50,180$42,500$40,995530
12Roanoke, VA$46,530$37,705$40,276520
13Burlington, VT$49,070$40,398$40,018780
14Buffalo, NY$46,920$37,944$39,5892,890
15Syracuse, NY$46,710$37,786$39,4671,540
16Charlottesville, VA$48,210$38,959$39,294650
17Virginia Beach, VA$46,700$37,832$38,6282,860
18Albany, NY$47,370$38,281$38,4481,970
19Rochester, NY$45,920$37,194$38,3312,140
20Kingston, NY$47,760$38,573$38,302450
21Richmond, VA$46,070$37,362$38,1802,110
22Phoenix, AZ$46,940$38,932$37,68210,580
23Fort Collins, CO$46,290$38,046$37,6211,210
24Santa Fe, NM$44,250$36,799$37,259530
25Norwich, CT$43,950$36,441$36,280900

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Bartender salary by state

StateMedianTake-homeRangeJobs
Hawaii $76,490$58,358 $30,670 – $117,5403,540
New York $61,210$48,654 $33,640 – $93,53043,130
Washington $55,830$47,039 $39,380 – $90,13016,800
District of Columbia $53,920$43,436 $36,400 – $95,5605,760
Maine $48,920$39,367 $31,120 – $99,8503,230
Virginia $47,070$38,108 $27,890 – $90,40013,370
Vermont $45,450$37,610 $29,970 – $91,4002,080
Arizona $45,070$37,476 $30,650 – $86,72014,840
New Jersey $44,020$36,666 $32,220 – $80,48016,260
Oregon $38,900$30,862 $31,200 – $68,98011,950
Connecticut $38,780$32,520 $34,010 – $81,7607,680
Colorado $38,170$31,879 $30,800 – $94,88017,000
Maryland $37,580$30,954 $31,200 – $69,73013,020
Massachusetts $37,440$30,611 $31,890 – $70,87019,850
New Mexico $36,980$31,271 $25,720 – $63,5703,790
Delaware $36,840$30,413 $31,200 – $60,4202,820
Michigan $36,780$30,420 $25,960 – $76,09021,100
North Carolina $36,470$30,537 $16,180 – $74,45020,070
Rhode Island $36,410$30,687 $31,200 – $76,3203,170
California $36,220$30,374 $34,320 – $75,13071,470
Florida $35,150$30,423 $27,430 – $66,40055,170
Utah $32,150$27,532 $17,640 – $75,0803,350
Illinois $31,200$25,850 $31,200 – $46,52043,010
Ohio $30,880$26,925 $22,990 – $72,19027,420
Alaska $30,460$26,655 $24,880 – $61,5502,280
Nebraska $30,180$25,900 $28,080 – $60,1407,320
Missouri $30,090$25,880 $28,600 – $54,90014,410
West Virginia $29,630$25,234 $19,900 – $64,2803,340
South Dakota $29,400$25,803 $27,400 – $38,1803,930
North Dakota $29,040$25,514 $18,850 – $57,0503,960
New Hampshire $28,800$25,321 $17,390 – $78,2303,840
Kentucky $28,780$24,415 $16,110 – $63,1406,870
Pennsylvania $28,420$24,141 $17,460 – $62,83037,490
Mississippi $28,320$24,531 $15,910 – $74,3302,770
Alabama $27,980$23,518 $17,260 – $55,5006,560
Kansas $27,940$23,829 $17,150 – $66,0105,430
Tennessee $27,480$24,240 $15,970 – $52,74010,330
Nevada $27,460$24,223 $24,960 – $47,25016,830
Idaho $27,240$23,707 $16,850 – $61,0603,430
Minnesota $26,900$23,142 $23,150 – $38,79024,420
Montana $26,010$22,563 $21,940 – $32,8705,370
Arkansas $25,090$21,506 $22,880 – $56,8303,020
Oklahoma $24,790$21,455 $16,230 – $48,0505,860
Wisconsin $23,460$20,621 $17,200 – $39,04029,520
Georgia $22,830$19,848 $15,840 – $53,31014,600
Indiana $22,770$19,719 $17,050 – $45,00012,880
Texas $22,690$20,295 $16,200 – $65,30059,000
Wyoming $22,030$19,752 $17,620 – $55,0702,660
Iowa $21,720$19,323 $16,730 – $39,5209,560
Louisiana $20,850$18,541 $15,080 – $41,60010,140
South Carolina $19,370$17,340 $15,080 – $59,43010,680

Frequently asked questions

How much does a bartender make?

The national median salary for bartenders is $34,340 a year ($16.51 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $20,110 and the top 10% earn over $73,770. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays bartenders the most?

Hawaii has the highest median pay at $76,490. After taxes and local prices, Kahului, HI offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many bartenders are there in the U.S.?

About 756,390 people work as bartenders nationwide.

All 237 cities