Bartender Salary in Lafayette, LA
Bartenders in the Lafayette, LA metro area earn a median $19,070 a year — 44% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $17,128 take-home, or $1,427 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Lafayette, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$297
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,182
- Medicare (1.45%)$277
- Louisiana income tax$186
- Take-home pay$17,128
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.00% state
Bartender pay by experience in Lafayette, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 | $13,860 | $1,155 |
| 25th percentile | $15,920 | $7.65 | $14,611 | $1,218 |
| Median (50th) | $19,070 | $9.17 | $17,128 | $1,427 |
| 75th percentile | $29,280 | $14.08 | $25,214 | $2,101 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,620 | $18.57 | $32,439 | $2,703 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $19,070 buys in Lafayette, LA
Prices in Lafayette, LA are 12.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 41% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $17,128 take-home pay has the buying power of $19,641 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 about as common in Lafayette, LA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.01).
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Lafayette, LA ranks #228 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 |
| 228 | Lafayette, LA | $19,070 | $17,128 | $19,641 |
*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 Louisiana
- Shreveport, LA — $19,770
- New Orleans, LA — $21,230
- Baton Rouge, LA — $20,640
- Slidell, LA — $19,990
- Lake Charles, LA — $18,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Lafayette, LA?
The median bartender salary in the Lafayette, LA metro area is $19,070 a year, or about $9.17 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $15,920 and $29,280.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Lafayette, LA?
On the median $19,070 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $17,128 a year ($1,427 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $186 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is Lafayette, LA a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 44% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 12.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $19,641 would in a typical U.S. city. Lafayette, LA ranks #228 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Lafayette, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lafayette, LA is $847 a month ($974 for two bedrooms) — 59% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Lafayette, LA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $35,000
- Cooks, Restaurant — $27,660
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $26,400
- Dishwasher — $25,300
- Food Preparation Worker — $22,920
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $22,320
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $21,650
- Waiter and Waitress — $15,080