Bartender Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Bartenders in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $46,940 a year — 37% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,932 take-home, or $3,244 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,453
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,910
- Medicare (1.45%)$681
- Arizona income tax$965
- Take-home pay$38,932
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.50% state
Bartender pay by experience in Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,970 | $14.89 | $26,499 | $2,208 |
| 25th percentile | $34,470 | $16.57 | $29,224 | $2,435 |
| Median (50th) | $46,940 | $22.57 | $38,932 | $3,244 |
| 75th percentile | $75,210 | $36.16 | $60,069 | $5,006 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $91,880 | $44.17 | $71,379 | $5,948 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,940 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $38,932 take-home pay has the buying power of $37,682 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 Phoenix, AZ as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.92).
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Phoenix, AZ ranks #22 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 |
| 22 | Phoenix, AZ | $46,940 | $38,932 | $37,682 |
*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 Arizona
- Prescott Valley, AZ — $42,340
- Tucson, AZ — $36,450
- Flagstaff, AZ — $36,270
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Phoenix, AZ?
The median bartender salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $46,940 a year, or about $22.57 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,470 and $75,210.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $46,940 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $38,932 a year ($3,244 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $965 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 37% above the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $37,682 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #22 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Phoenix, AZ
- Chef and Head Cook — $61,400
- Waiter and Waitress — $47,530
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,100
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $40,120
- Cooks, Restaurant — $39,170
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $38,200
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,580
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $36,960
- Dishwasher — $35,780
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,690
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $35,080
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,540