Bartender Salary in Memphis, TN
Bartenders in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median $28,710 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,248 take-home, or $2,104 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Memphis, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,265
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,780
- Medicare (1.45%)$416
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$25,248
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro spans Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Bartender pay by experience in Memphis, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,560 | $7.96 | $15,247 | $1,271 |
| 25th percentile | $20,440 | $9.83 | $18,442 | $1,537 |
| Median (50th) | $28,710 | $13.80 | $25,248 | $2,104 |
| 75th percentile | $47,150 | $22.67 | $40,065 | $3,339 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,350 | $27.09 | $47,457 | $3,955 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,710 buys in Memphis, TN
Prices in Memphis, TN are 7.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 20% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $25,248 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,391 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 Memphis, TN than nationally (location quotient 0.46), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Memphis, TN ranks #138 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 |
| 138 | Memphis, TN | $28,710 | $25,248 | $27,391 |
*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
- Knoxville, TN — $28,860
- Nashville, TN — $28,190
- Chattanooga, TN — $25,650
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Memphis, TN?
The median bartender salary in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $28,710 a year, or about $13.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $20,440 and $47,150.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Memphis, TN?
On the median $28,710 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $25,248 a year ($2,104 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Memphis, TN a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 7.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,391 would in a typical U.S. city. Memphis, TN ranks #138 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Memphis, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Memphis, TN is $1,137 a month ($1,263 for two bedrooms) — 54% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Memphis, TN
- Chef and Head Cook — $66,230
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,620
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $38,530
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,340
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,740
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $33,170
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $31,080
- Cooks, Short Order — $29,880
- Dishwasher — $29,700
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $27,610
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,490
- Food Preparation Worker — $27,290