Bartender Salary in Denver, CO
Bartenders in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $37,180 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,127 take-home, or $2,594 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,282
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,305
- Medicare (1.45%)$539
- Colorado income tax$928
- Take-home pay$31,127
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Bartender pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,080 | $14.94 | $26,494 | $2,208 |
| 25th percentile | $32,600 | $15.67 | $27,648 | $2,304 |
| Median (50th) | $37,180 | $17.88 | $31,127 | $2,594 |
| 75th percentile | $63,390 | $30.48 | $51,033 | $4,253 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,950 | $47.09 | $74,136 | $6,178 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,180 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $31,127 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,425 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Denver, CO has 1.2× the national concentration of bartender jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #90 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 |
| 90 | Denver, CO | $37,180 | $31,127 | $29,425 |
*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
- Boulder, CO — $42,520
- Greeley, CO — $37,680
- Colorado Springs, CO — $37,700
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Denver, CO?
The median bartender salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $37,180 a year, or about $17.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $32,600 and $63,390.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $37,180 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $31,127 a year ($2,594 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $928 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,425 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #90 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 68% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Chef and Head Cook — $66,970
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $52,520
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $45,070
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,370
- Cooks, Short Order — $44,200
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $39,850
- Waiter and Waitress — $39,650
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,470
- Dishwasher — $38,710
- Cooks, Fast Food — $38,530
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $37,070
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $36,880