Bartender Salary in Allentown, PA
Bartenders in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area earn a median $32,220 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $27,080 take-home, or $2,257 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Allentown, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,686
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,998
- Medicare (1.45%)$467
- Pennsylvania income tax$989
- Take-home pay$27,080
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
The Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Bartender pay by experience in Allentown, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,190 | $8.75 | $16,031 | $1,336 |
| 25th percentile | $22,380 | $10.76 | $19,353 | $1,613 |
| Median (50th) | $32,220 | $15.49 | $27,080 | $2,257 |
| 75th percentile | $48,150 | $23.15 | $39,390 | $3,283 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,370 | $31.91 | $53,471 | $4,456 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $32,220 buys in Allentown, PA
Prices in Allentown, PA are 0.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.06× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $27,080 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,088 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 Allentown, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.08).
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Allentown, PA ranks #143 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 |
| 143 | Allentown, PA | $32,220 | $27,080 | $27,088 |
*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 Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia, PA — $36,040
- Pittsburgh, PA — $29,750
- York, PA — $28,810
- Scranton, PA — $28,010
- Reading, PA — $28,260
- State College, PA — $28,100
- Lancaster, PA — $28,280
- Harrisburg, PA — $27,520
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Allentown, PA?
The median bartender salary in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area is $32,220 a year, or about $15.49 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $22,380 and $48,150.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Allentown, PA?
On the median $32,220 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $27,080 a year ($2,257 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $989 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Allentown, PA a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 0.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,088 would in a typical U.S. city. Allentown, PA ranks #143 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Allentown, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Allentown, PA is $1,365 a month ($1,667 for two bedrooms) — 60% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Allentown, PA
- Chef and Head Cook — $63,220
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $43,780
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,570
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,120
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,630
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,370
- Food Preparation Worker — $33,430
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $31,270
- Dishwasher — $30,690
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $30,640
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,090
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,760