Bartender Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Bartenders in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $35,510 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,841 take-home, or $2,487 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,081
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,202
- Medicare (1.45%)$515
- California income tax$410
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$462
- Take-home pay$29,841
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Bartender pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,320 | $16.50 | $28,948 | $2,412 |
| 25th percentile | $34,490 | $16.58 | $29,075 | $2,423 |
| Median (50th) | $35,510 | $17.07 | $29,841 | $2,487 |
| 75th percentile | $38,210 | $18.37 | $31,867 | $2,656 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $52,770 | $25.37 | $42,679 | $3,557 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,510 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $29,841 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,276 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 Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.83).
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #151 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 |
| 151 | Los Angeles, CA | $35,510 | $29,841 | $26,276 |
*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
- Fresno, CA — $34,320
- Napa, CA — $37,790
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median bartender salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $35,510 a year, or about $17.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,490 and $38,210.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $35,510 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $29,841 a year ($2,487 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $871 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,276 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #151 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 90% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $69,990
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,970
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $45,400
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,460
- Cooks, Short Order — $43,680
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,110
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,770
- Cooks, All Other — $38,850
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $38,350
- Cooks, Fast Food — $38,000
- Dishwasher — $37,580
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $36,920