Bartender Salary in Charlottesville, VA
Bartenders in the Charlottesville, VA metro area earn a median $48,210 a year — 40% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,959 take-home, or $3,247 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Charlottesville, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,605
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,989
- Medicare (1.45%)$699
- Virginia income tax$1,958
- Take-home pay$38,959
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
Bartender pay by experience in Charlottesville, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,200 | $14.52 | $25,523 | $2,127 |
| 25th percentile | $34,360 | $16.52 | $28,627 | $2,386 |
| Median (50th) | $48,210 | $23.18 | $38,959 | $3,247 |
| 75th percentile | $71,560 | $34.40 | $55,872 | $4,656 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,320 | $39.58 | $62,823 | $5,235 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $48,210 buys in Charlottesville, VA
Prices in Charlottesville, VA are 0.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.07× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $38,959 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,294 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 Charlottesville, VA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.17).
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Charlottesville, VA ranks #16 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 |
| 16 | Charlottesville, VA | $48,210 | $38,959 | $39,294 |
*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 Virginia
- Roanoke, VA — $46,530
- Virginia Beach, VA — $46,700
- Richmond, VA — $46,070
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Charlottesville, VA?
The median bartender salary in the Charlottesville, VA metro area is $48,210 a year, or about $23.18 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,360 and $71,560.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Charlottesville, VA?
On the median $48,210 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $38,959 a year ($3,247 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,958 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Charlottesville, VA a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 40% above the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 0.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,294 would in a typical U.S. city. Charlottesville, VA ranks #16 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Charlottesville, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charlottesville, VA is $1,602 a month ($1,824 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 Charlottesville, VA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,800
- Waiter and Waitress — $44,030
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,510
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,960
- Dishwasher — $33,090
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $30,150