Bartender Salary in Billings, MT
Bartenders in the Billings, MT metro area earn a median $23,550 a year — 31% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $20,653 take-home, or $1,721 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Billings, MT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$745
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,460
- Medicare (1.45%)$341
- Montana income tax$350
- Take-home pay$20,653
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 4.70% state
Bartender pay by experience in Billings, MT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,940 | $10.55 | $19,403 | $1,617 |
| 25th percentile | $22,360 | $10.75 | $19,729 | $1,644 |
| Median (50th) | $23,550 | $11.32 | $20,653 | $1,721 |
| 75th percentile | $28,210 | $13.56 | $24,272 | $2,023 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $30,520 | $14.67 | $26,025 | $2,169 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Montana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $23,550 buys in Billings, MT
Prices in Billings, MT are 6.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 23% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $20,653 take-home pay has the buying power of $22,083 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Billings, MT has 1.7× the national concentration of bartender jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Billings, MT ranks #189 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 |
| 189 | Billings, MT | $23,550 | $20,653 | $22,083 |
*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 Montana
- Missoula, MT — $25,990
- Bozeman, MT — $27,040
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Billings, MT?
The median bartender salary in the Billings, MT metro area is $23,550 a year, or about $11.32 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $22,360 and $28,210.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Billings, MT?
On the median $23,550 salary, a single filer living in Montana takes home about $20,653 a year ($1,721 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $350 in Montana taxes in 2026.
Is Billings, MT a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 31% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 6.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $22,083 would in a typical U.S. city. Billings, MT ranks #189 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Billings, MT?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Billings, MT is $1,102 a month ($1,409 for two bedrooms) — 64% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Billings, MT
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,030
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,260
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,590
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,130
- Waiter and Waitress — $22,940