Bartender Salary in Bridgeport, CT
Bartenders in the Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metro area earn a median $45,150 a year — 31% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,351 take-home, or $3,113 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Bridgeport, CT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,238
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,799
- Medicare (1.45%)$655
- Connecticut income tax$1,107
- Take-home pay$37,351
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Bartender pay by experience in Bridgeport, CT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,010 | $16.35 | $28,902 | $2,408 |
| 25th percentile | $35,260 | $16.95 | $29,850 | $2,487 |
| Median (50th) | $45,150 | $21.71 | $37,351 | $3,113 |
| 75th percentile | $64,220 | $30.88 | $51,816 | $4,318 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,580 | $40.66 | $65,255 | $5,438 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Connecticut resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,150 buys in Bridgeport, CT
Prices in Bridgeport, CT are 6.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.50× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $37,351 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,952 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 Bridgeport, CT as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Bridgeport, CT ranks #29 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 |
| 29 | Bridgeport, CT | $45,150 | $37,351 | $34,952 |
*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 Connecticut
- Norwich, CT — $43,950
- Waterbury, CT — $37,290
- New Haven, CT — $38,260
- Hartford, CT — $37,290
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Bridgeport, CT?
The median bartender salary in the Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metro area is $45,150 a year, or about $21.71 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,260 and $64,220.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Bridgeport, CT?
On the median $45,150 salary, a single filer living in Connecticut takes home about $37,351 a year ($3,113 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,107 in Connecticut taxes in 2026.
Is Bridgeport, CT a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 31% above the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 6.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,952 would in a typical U.S. city. Bridgeport, CT ranks #29 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Bridgeport, CT?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Bridgeport, CT is $2,100 a month ($2,511 for two bedrooms) — 67% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Bridgeport, CT
- Chef and Head Cook — $66,930
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $58,260
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $47,380
- Cooks, Restaurant — $43,400
- Waiter and Waitress — $38,820
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,820
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $37,210
- Dishwasher — $36,850
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $36,550
- Cooks, Fast Food — $35,810
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $35,300
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $35,270