Bartender Salary in Dayton, OH
Bartenders in the Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro area earn a median $29,830 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,110 take-home, or $2,176 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Dayton, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,400
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,849
- Medicare (1.45%)$433
- Ohio income tax$38
- Take-home pay$26,110
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Bartender pay by experience in Dayton, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,870 | $11.00 | $20,443 | $1,704 |
| 25th percentile | $24,790 | $11.92 | $22,025 | $1,835 |
| Median (50th) | $29,830 | $14.34 | $26,110 | $2,176 |
| 75th percentile | $42,680 | $20.52 | $36,082 | $3,007 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,870 | $30.23 | $51,749 | $4,312 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,830 buys in Dayton, OH
Prices in Dayton, OH are 7.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 27% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $26,110 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,168 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 Dayton, OH as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Dayton, OH ranks #117 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 |
| 117 | Dayton, OH | $29,830 | $26,110 | $28,168 |
*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 Ohio
- Columbus, OH — $37,000
- Cincinnati, OH — $34,240
- Cleveland, OH — $33,470
- Canton, OH — $30,450
- Youngstown, OH — $29,520
- Sandusky, OH — $30,130
- Toledo, OH — $30,820
- Akron, OH — $31,120
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Dayton, OH?
The median bartender salary in the Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro area is $29,830 a year, or about $14.34 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $24,790 and $42,680.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Dayton, OH?
On the median $29,830 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $26,110 a year ($2,176 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $38 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Dayton, OH a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 7.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,168 would in a typical U.S. city. Dayton, OH ranks #117 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Dayton, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Dayton, OH is $1,009 a month ($1,273 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Dayton, OH
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,680
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,680
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,600
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,700
- Food Preparation Worker — $33,110
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $31,200
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $30,020
- Dishwasher — $29,580
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,680
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $26,990
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,950