Bartender Salary in Olympia, WA
Bartenders in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area earn a median $50,180 a year — 46% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $42,500 take-home, or $3,542 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Olympia, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,842
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,111
- Medicare (1.45%)$728
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$42,500
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Bartender pay by experience in Olympia, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,480 | $18.02 | $32,295 | $2,691 |
| 25th percentile | $45,900 | $22.07 | $39,061 | $3,255 |
| Median (50th) | $50,180 | $24.13 | $42,500 | $3,542 |
| 75th percentile | $59,250 | $28.49 | $49,787 | $4,149 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,820 | $39.82 | $67,094 | $5,591 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,180 buys in Olympia, WA
Prices in Olympia, WA are 3.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.17× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $42,500 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,995 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 Olympia, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.83).
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Olympia, WA ranks #11 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 |
| 11 | Olympia, WA | $50,180 | $42,500 | $40,995 |
*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 Washington
- Kennewick, WA — $55,820
- Bellingham, WA — $56,110
- Seattle, WA — $58,180
- Bremerton, WA — $53,810
- Spokane, WA — $50,210
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Olympia, WA?
The median bartender salary in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area is $50,180 a year, or about $24.13 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,900 and $59,250.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Olympia, WA?
On the median $50,180 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $42,500 a year ($3,542 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Olympia, WA a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 46% above the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 3.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,995 would in a typical U.S. city. Olympia, WA ranks #11 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Olympia, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Olympia, WA is $1,682 a month ($1,960 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Olympia, WA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $54,200
- Waiter and Waitress — $53,000
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,960
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,950
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $36,110