Bartender Salary in Albany, NY
Bartenders in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area earn a median $47,370 a year — 38% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,281 take-home, or $3,190 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$3,504
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,937
- Medicare (1.45%)$687
- New York income tax$1,961
- Take-home pay$38,281
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Bartender pay by experience in Albany, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,240 | $15.50 | $26,941 | $2,245 |
| 25th percentile | $35,200 | $16.92 | $29,159 | $2,430 |
| Median (50th) | $47,370 | $22.77 | $38,281 | $3,190 |
| 75th percentile | $66,300 | $31.88 | $52,469 | $4,372 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,420 | $40.11 | $63,608 | $5,301 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,370 buys in Albany, NY
Prices in Albany, NY are 0.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.03× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $38,281 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,448 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 Albany, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Albany, NY ranks #18 of 237 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $86,280 | $64,501 | $58,962 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $75,340 | $57,636 | $51,943 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $55,820 | $47,031 | $46,994 |
| 4 | Bellingham, WA | $56,110 | $47,264 | $45,739 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $58,180 | $48,928 | $44,026 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $61,220 | $48,661 | $43,230 |
| 7 | Bremerton, WA | $53,810 | $45,416 | $43,005 |
| 8 | Portland, ME | $54,170 | $43,231 | $42,442 |
| 18 | Albany, NY | $47,370 | $38,281 | $38,448 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 237 metros →
Bartender salaries elsewhere in New York
- New York, NY — $61,220
- Binghamton, NY — $47,950
- Buffalo, NY — $46,920
- Syracuse, NY — $46,710
- Rochester, NY — $45,920
- Kingston, NY — $47,760
- Utica, NY — $38,860
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $46,320
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Albany, NY?
The median bartender salary in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area is $47,370 a year, or about $22.77 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,200 and $66,300.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Albany, NY?
On the median $47,370 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $38,281 a year ($3,190 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,961 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Albany, NY a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 38% above the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 0.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,448 would in a typical U.S. city. Albany, NY ranks #18 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Albany, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Albany, NY is $1,417 a month ($1,702 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Albany, NY
- Chef and Head Cook — $84,430
- Waiter and Waitress — $48,980
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,330
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $43,550
- Cooks, Restaurant — $39,610
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $36,460
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,260
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,550
- Dishwasher — $34,580
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $34,560
- Cooks, Short Order — $34,520
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,060