Bartender Salary in Lancaster, PA
Bartenders in the Lancaster, PA metro area earn a median $28,280 a year — 18% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,030 take-home, or $2,003 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Lancaster, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,218
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,753
- Medicare (1.45%)$410
- Pennsylvania income tax$868
- Take-home pay$24,030
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.07% state
Bartender pay by experience in Lancaster, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,480 | $8.40 | $15,468 | $1,289 |
| 25th percentile | $21,280 | $10.23 | $18,481 | $1,540 |
| Median (50th) | $28,280 | $13.60 | $24,030 | $2,003 |
| 75th percentile | $46,510 | $22.36 | $38,123 | $3,177 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,590 | $31.05 | $52,095 | $4,341 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,280 buys in Lancaster, PA
Prices in Lancaster, PA are 1.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 6% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $24,030 take-home pay has the buying power of $24,457 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 Lancaster, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.13).
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Lancaster, PA ranks #170 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 |
| 170 | Lancaster, PA | $28,280 | $24,030 | $24,457 |
*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 Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia, PA — $36,040
- Allentown, PA — $32,220
- Pittsburgh, PA — $29,750
- York, PA — $28,810
- Scranton, PA — $28,010
- Reading, PA — $28,260
- State College, PA — $28,100
- Harrisburg, PA — $27,520
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Lancaster, PA?
The median bartender salary in the Lancaster, PA metro area is $28,280 a year, or about $13.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $21,280 and $46,510.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Lancaster, PA?
On the median $28,280 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $24,030 a year ($2,003 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $868 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Lancaster, PA a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 18% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 1.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $24,457 would in a typical U.S. city. Lancaster, PA ranks #170 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Lancaster, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lancaster, PA is $1,220 a month ($1,526 for two bedrooms) — 61% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Lancaster, PA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $43,250
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,040
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,500
- Waiter and Waitress — $32,190
- Food Preparation Worker — $31,580
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $30,660
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,520
- Dishwasher — $29,140
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,580
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,120
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,260