Bartender Salary in Knoxville, TN
Bartenders in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median $28,860 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,369 take-home, or $2,114 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Knoxville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,283
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,789
- Medicare (1.45%)$418
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$25,369
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Bartender pay by experience in Knoxville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,350 | $7.38 | $14,176 | $1,181 |
| 25th percentile | $18,770 | $9.02 | $17,067 | $1,422 |
| Median (50th) | $28,860 | $13.88 | $25,369 | $2,114 |
| 75th percentile | $44,640 | $21.46 | $38,048 | $3,171 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,360 | $26.13 | $45,858 | $3,822 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,860 buys in Knoxville, TN
Prices in Knoxville, TN are 7.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 17% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $25,369 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,406 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 Knoxville, TN than nationally (location quotient 0.68), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Knoxville, TN ranks #137 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 |
| 137 | Knoxville, TN | $28,860 | $25,369 | $27,406 |
*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 Tennessee
- Memphis, TN — $28,710
- Nashville, TN — $28,190
- Chattanooga, TN — $25,650
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Knoxville, TN?
The median bartender salary in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $28,860 a year, or about $13.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $18,770 and $44,640.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Knoxville, TN?
On the median $28,860 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $25,369 a year ($2,114 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Knoxville, TN a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,406 would in a typical U.S. city. Knoxville, TN ranks #137 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Knoxville, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Knoxville, TN is $1,126 a month ($1,401 for two bedrooms) — 53% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
- Chef and Head Cook — $62,770
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $41,380
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,520
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $35,970
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,150
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,960
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $30,080
- Dishwasher — $29,530
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $29,100
- Waiter and Waitress — $28,100
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,720
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,580