Bartender Salary in Lawrence, KS
Bartenders in the Lawrence, KS metro area earn a median $29,980 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,374 take-home, or $2,114 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Lawrence, KS. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,418
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,859
- Medicare (1.45%)$435
- Kansas income tax$895
- Take-home pay$25,374
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.20% state
Bartender pay by experience in Lawrence, KS
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,080 | $8.69 | $16,223 | $1,352 |
| 25th percentile | $21,430 | $10.30 | $18,807 | $1,567 |
| Median (50th) | $29,980 | $14.41 | $25,374 | $2,114 |
| 75th percentile | $58,350 | $28.05 | $46,608 | $3,884 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $68,580 | $32.97 | $54,049 | $4,504 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kansas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,980 buys in Lawrence, KS
Prices in Lawrence, KS are 9.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 28% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $25,374 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,117 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Lawrence, KS has 1.9× the national concentration of bartender jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Lawrence, KS ranks #119 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 |
| 119 | Lawrence, KS | $29,980 | $25,374 | $28,117 |
*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 Kansas
- Wichita, KS — $28,540
- Topeka, KS — $27,860
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Lawrence, KS?
The median bartender salary in the Lawrence, KS metro area is $29,980 a year, or about $14.41 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $21,430 and $58,350.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Lawrence, KS?
On the median $29,980 salary, a single filer living in Kansas takes home about $25,374 a year ($2,114 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $895 in Kansas taxes in 2026.
Is Lawrence, KS a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 9.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,117 would in a typical U.S. city. Lawrence, KS ranks #119 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Lawrence, KS?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lawrence, KS is $1,006 a month ($1,182 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Lawrence, KS
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,440
- Waiter and Waitress — $37,230
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,140
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,320