Bartender Salary in Boston, MA
Bartenders in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $37,760 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,852 take-home, or $2,571 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,351
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,341
- Medicare (1.45%)$548
- Massachusetts income tax$1,668
- Take-home pay$30,852
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Bartender pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,010 | $15.39 | $26,520 | $2,210 |
| 25th percentile | $34,470 | $16.57 | $28,373 | $2,364 |
| Median (50th) | $37,760 | $18.15 | $30,852 | $2,571 |
| 75th percentile | $50,400 | $24.23 | $40,376 | $3,365 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,890 | $35.52 | $57,337 | $4,778 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,760 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $30,852 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,497 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 Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.13).
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #107 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 |
| 107 | Boston, MA | $37,760 | $30,852 | $28,497 |
*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 Massachusetts
- Barnstable Town, MA — $43,530
- Pittsfield, MA — $35,390
- Springfield, MA — $35,610
- Amherst Town, MA — $35,300
- Worcester, MA — $35,950
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Boston, MA?
The median bartender salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $37,760 a year, or about $18.15 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,470 and $50,400.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $37,760 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $30,852 a year ($2,571 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,668 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,497 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #107 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 89% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Chef and Head Cook — $72,470
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $48,530
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $47,090
- Cooks, Restaurant — $45,830
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,660
- Cooks, Short Order — $39,600
- Waiter and Waitress — $39,270
- Dishwasher — $37,750
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $37,330
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $36,290
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $35,140
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,780