Bartender Salary in Boulder, CO
Bartenders in the Boulder, CO metro area earn a median $42,520 a year — 24% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,182 take-home, or $2,932 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Boulder, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,922
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,636
- Medicare (1.45%)$617
- Colorado income tax$1,162
- Take-home pay$35,182
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Bartender pay by experience in Boulder, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,190 | $15.96 | $28,096 | $2,341 |
| 25th percentile | $35,030 | $16.84 | $29,494 | $2,458 |
| Median (50th) | $42,520 | $20.44 | $35,182 | $2,932 |
| 75th percentile | $63,720 | $30.63 | $51,284 | $4,274 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,040 | $44.25 | $70,239 | $5,853 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,520 buys in Boulder, CO
Prices in Boulder, CO are 5.2% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.57× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $35,182 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,443 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 Boulder, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Boulder, CO ranks #36 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 |
| 36 | Boulder, CO | $42,520 | $35,182 | $33,443 |
*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 Colorado
- Fort Collins, CO — $46,290
- Greeley, CO — $37,680
- Colorado Springs, CO — $37,700
- Denver, CO — $37,180
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Boulder, CO?
The median bartender salary in the Boulder, CO metro area is $42,520 a year, or about $20.44 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,030 and $63,720.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Boulder, CO?
On the median $42,520 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $35,182 a year ($2,932 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,162 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Boulder, CO a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 24% above the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 5.2% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,443 would in a typical U.S. city. Boulder, CO ranks #36 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Boulder, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boulder, CO is $1,795 a month ($2,124 for two bedrooms) — 61% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boulder, CO
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $52,020
- Waiter and Waitress — $49,870
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $48,020
- Cooks, Restaurant — $42,220
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,690
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $38,930
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $38,220
- Dishwasher — $37,750
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $37,460
- Cooks, Fast Food — $36,250
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $36,190