Bartender Salary in Richmond, VA
Bartenders in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median $46,070 a year — 34% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,362 take-home, or $3,114 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Richmond, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,348
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,856
- Medicare (1.45%)$668
- Virginia income tax$1,835
- Take-home pay$37,362
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
Bartender pay by experience in Richmond, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,670 | $13.30 | $23,619 | $1,968 |
| 25th percentile | $33,910 | $16.30 | $28,291 | $2,358 |
| Median (50th) | $46,070 | $22.15 | $37,362 | $3,114 |
| 75th percentile | $70,210 | $33.75 | $55,000 | $4,583 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,320 | $38.13 | $60,885 | $5,074 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,070 buys in Richmond, VA
Prices in Richmond, VA are 2.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $37,362 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,180 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 Richmond, VA than nationally (location quotient 0.66), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Richmond, VA ranks #21 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 |
| 21 | Richmond, VA | $46,070 | $37,362 | $38,180 |
*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 Virginia
- Roanoke, VA — $46,530
- Charlottesville, VA — $48,210
- Virginia Beach, VA — $46,700
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Richmond, VA?
The median bartender salary in the Richmond, VA metro area is $46,070 a year, or about $22.15 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,910 and $70,210.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Richmond, VA?
On the median $46,070 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $37,362 a year ($3,114 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,835 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Richmond, VA a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 34% above the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 2.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,180 would in a typical U.S. city. Richmond, VA ranks #21 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Richmond, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Richmond, VA is $1,505 a month ($1,653 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 Richmond, VA
- Chef and Head Cook — $59,730
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,580
- Waiter and Waitress — $38,470
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,140
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,080
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,960
- Food Preparation Worker — $33,650
- Dishwasher — $31,370
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,980
- Cooks, Fast Food — $29,570
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,500
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,480