Bartender Salary in Birmingham, AL
Bartenders in the Birmingham, AL metro area earn a median $30,010 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,058 take-home, or $2,088 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Birmingham, AL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,421
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,861
- Medicare (1.45%)$435
- Alabama income tax$1,236
- Take-home pay$25,058
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
Bartender pay by experience in Birmingham, AL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,200 | $8.75 | $15,953 | $1,329 |
| 25th percentile | $23,220 | $11.16 | $19,836 | $1,653 |
| Median (50th) | $30,010 | $14.43 | $25,058 | $2,088 |
| 75th percentile | $38,830 | $18.67 | $31,703 | $2,642 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,220 | $28.95 | $47,821 | $3,985 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alabama resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,010 buys in Birmingham, AL
Prices in Birmingham, AL are 8.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 28% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $25,058 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,342 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 less concentrated in Birmingham, AL than nationally (location quotient 0.63), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Birmingham, AL ranks #139 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 |
| 139 | Birmingham, AL | $30,010 | $25,058 | $27,342 |
*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 Alabama
- Mobile, AL — $27,980
- Tuscaloosa, AL — $26,830
- Huntsville, AL — $28,210
- Montgomery, AL — $26,830
- Daphne, AL — $28,360
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Birmingham, AL?
The median bartender salary in the Birmingham, AL metro area is $30,010 a year, or about $14.43 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $23,220 and $38,830.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Birmingham, AL?
On the median $30,010 salary, a single filer living in Alabama takes home about $25,058 a year ($2,088 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,236 in Alabama taxes in 2026.
Is Birmingham, AL a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 8.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,342 would in a typical U.S. city. Birmingham, AL ranks #139 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Birmingham, AL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Birmingham, AL is $1,115 a month ($1,234 for two bedrooms) — 53% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Birmingham, AL
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,570
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,340
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $30,370
- Dishwasher — $29,790
- Food Preparation Worker — $29,260
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,320
- Waiter and Waitress — $27,670
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $27,220
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,020
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $26,440
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $23,320