Bartender Salary in Fayetteville, NC
Bartenders in the Fayetteville, NC metro area earn a median $34,880 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,323 take-home, or $2,444 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Fayetteville, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,006
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,163
- Medicare (1.45%)$506
- North Carolina income tax$883
- Take-home pay$29,323
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Bartender pay by experience in Fayetteville, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,260 | $7.34 | $13,992 | $1,166 |
| 25th percentile | $20,510 | $9.86 | $18,190 | $1,516 |
| Median (50th) | $34,880 | $16.77 | $29,323 | $2,444 |
| 75th percentile | $46,760 | $22.48 | $38,395 | $3,200 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,560 | $29.60 | $49,696 | $4,141 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,880 buys in Fayetteville, NC
Prices in Fayetteville, NC are 8.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 27% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $29,323 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,881 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 Fayetteville, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.78), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Fayetteville, NC ranks #49 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 |
| 49 | Fayetteville, NC | $34,880 | $29,323 | $31,881 |
*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
- Durham, NC — $37,110
- 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 Fayetteville, NC?
The median bartender salary in the Fayetteville, NC metro area is $34,880 a year, or about $16.77 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $20,510 and $46,760.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Fayetteville, NC?
On the median $34,880 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $29,323 a year ($2,444 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $883 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Fayetteville, NC a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 8.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,881 would in a typical U.S. city. Fayetteville, NC ranks #49 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Fayetteville, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Fayetteville, NC is $1,065 a month ($1,217 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Fayetteville, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,760
- Cooks, Restaurant — $32,720
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,520
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,170
- Food Preparation Worker — $27,590
- Cooks, Fast Food — $23,430