Bartender Salary in Burlington, VT
Bartenders in the Burlington-South Burlington, VT metro area earn a median $49,070 a year — 43% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,398 take-home, or $3,366 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Burlington, VT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,708
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,042
- Medicare (1.45%)$712
- Vermont income tax$1,210
- Take-home pay$40,398
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.35% state
Bartender pay by experience in Burlington, VT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,200 | $14.52 | $25,868 | $2,156 |
| 25th percentile | $34,570 | $16.62 | $29,233 | $2,436 |
| Median (50th) | $49,070 | $23.59 | $40,398 | $3,366 |
| 75th percentile | $75,640 | $36.37 | $59,511 | $4,959 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,530 | $45.93 | $72,191 | $6,016 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Vermont resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $49,070 buys in Burlington, VT
Prices in Burlington, VT are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.04× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $40,398 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,018 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Burlington, VT has 1.3× the national concentration of bartender jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Burlington, VT ranks #13 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 |
| 13 | Burlington, VT | $49,070 | $40,398 | $40,018 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 237 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Burlington, VT?
The median bartender salary in the Burlington-South Burlington, VT metro area is $49,070 a year, or about $23.59 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,570 and $75,640.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Burlington, VT?
On the median $49,070 salary, a single filer living in Vermont takes home about $40,398 a year ($3,366 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,210 in Vermont taxes in 2026.
Is Burlington, VT a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 43% above the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,018 would in a typical U.S. city. Burlington, VT ranks #13 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Burlington, VT?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Burlington, VT is $1,651 a month ($2,140 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Burlington, VT
- Waiter and Waitress — $61,620
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $51,440
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $47,390
- Cooks, Restaurant — $45,390
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $37,190
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,040
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $31,120