Bartender Salary in Athens, GA
Bartenders in the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area earn a median $20,400 a year — 41% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $17,973 take-home, or $1,498 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Athens, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$430
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,265
- Medicare (1.45%)$296
- Georgia income tax$436
- Take-home pay$17,973
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 5.19% state
Bartender pay by experience in Athens, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,040 | $7.71 | $14,603 | $1,217 |
| 25th percentile | $17,690 | $8.50 | $15,882 | $1,324 |
| Median (50th) | $20,400 | $9.81 | $17,973 | $1,498 |
| 75th percentile | $31,080 | $14.94 | $26,163 | $2,180 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,680 | $23.88 | $40,142 | $3,345 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $20,400 buys in Athens, GA
Prices in Athens, GA are 6.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 23% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $17,973 take-home pay has the buying power of $19,255 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 Athens, GA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Athens, GA ranks #231 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 |
| 231 | Athens, GA | $20,400 | $17,973 | $19,255 |
*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 Georgia
- Atlanta, GA — $23,350
- Savannah, GA — $21,980
- Augusta, GA — $21,100
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Athens, GA?
The median bartender salary in the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area is $20,400 a year, or about $9.81 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $17,690 and $31,080.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Athens, GA?
On the median $20,400 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $17,973 a year ($1,498 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $436 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Athens, GA a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 41% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 6.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $19,255 would in a typical U.S. city. Athens, GA ranks #231 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Athens, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Athens, GA is $1,183 a month ($1,331 for two bedrooms) — 79% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Athens, GA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,060
- Cooks, Restaurant — $33,540
- Food Preparation Worker — $31,190
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $24,220
- Waiter and Waitress — $21,090