Bartender Salary in Durham, NC
Bartenders in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $37,110 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,026 take-home, or $2,585 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$2,273
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,301
- Medicare (1.45%)$538
- North Carolina income tax$972
- Take-home pay$31,026
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Bartender pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,770 | $8.06 | $15,260 | $1,272 |
| 25th percentile | $22,530 | $10.83 | $19,773 | $1,648 |
| Median (50th) | $37,110 | $17.84 | $31,026 | $2,585 |
| 75th percentile | $60,100 | $28.89 | $48,581 | $4,048 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $72,350 | $34.78 | $57,350 | $4,779 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,110 buys in Durham, NC
Prices in Durham, NC are 2.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $31,026 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,798 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 less concentrated in Durham, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.71), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Durham, NC ranks #50 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 |
| 50 | Durham, NC | $37,110 | $31,026 | $31,798 |
*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 North Carolina
- Wilmington, NC — $37,890
- Charlotte, NC — $37,390
- Winston, NC — $34,920
- Fayetteville, NC — $34,880
- Greensboro, NC — $34,550
- Raleigh, NC — $36,120
- Asheville, NC — $35,380
- Hickory, NC — $31,860
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Durham, NC?
The median bartender salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $37,110 a year, or about $17.84 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $22,530 and $60,100.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $37,110 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $31,026 a year ($2,585 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $972 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,798 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #50 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Durham, NC is $1,456 a month ($1,660 for two bedrooms) — 56% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Durham, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,150
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,970
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,170
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,230
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,560
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,500
- Dishwasher — $33,800
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,440
- Cooks, Fast Food — $29,190
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,170
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $27,410