Bartender Salary in Fresno, CA
Bartenders in the Fresno, CA metro area earn a median $34,320 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,948 take-home, or $2,412 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Fresno, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,938
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,128
- Medicare (1.45%)$498
- California income tax$362
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$446
- Take-home pay$28,948
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Bartender pay by experience in Fresno, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,320 | $16.50 | $28,948 | $2,412 |
| 25th percentile | $34,320 | $16.50 | $28,948 | $2,412 |
| Median (50th) | $34,320 | $16.50 | $28,948 | $2,412 |
| 75th percentile | $39,080 | $18.79 | $32,520 | $2,710 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,540 | $35.84 | $57,549 | $4,796 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,320 buys in Fresno, CA
Prices in Fresno, CA are 2.2% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 4% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $28,948 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,336 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 Fresno, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.55), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Fresno, CA ranks #112 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 |
| 112 | Fresno, CA | $34,320 | $28,948 | $28,336 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $42,270
- Santa Rosa, CA — $37,680
- Bakersfield, CA — $34,320
- San Francisco, CA — $39,670
- Vallejo, CA — $36,870
- Modesto, CA — $35,100
- Napa, CA — $37,790
- Sacramento, CA — $35,510
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Fresno, CA?
The median bartender salary in the Fresno, CA metro area is $34,320 a year, or about $16.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,320 and $39,080.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Fresno, CA?
On the median $34,320 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $28,948 a year ($2,412 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $808 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Fresno, CA a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 2.2% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,336 would in a typical U.S. city. Fresno, CA ranks #112 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Fresno, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Fresno, CA is $1,315 a month ($1,625 for two bedrooms) — 55% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Fresno, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $61,870
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,730
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $42,580
- Cooks, Fast Food — $39,620
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $39,480
- Cooks, Short Order — $38,280
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,260
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $37,760
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,730
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $36,770
- Dishwasher — $35,110
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,320