Bartender Salary in Roanoke, VA
Bartenders in the Roanoke, VA metro area earn a median $46,530 a year — 35% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,705 take-home, or $3,142 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Roanoke, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,404
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,885
- Medicare (1.45%)$675
- Virginia income tax$1,861
- Take-home pay$37,705
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
Bartender pay by experience in Roanoke, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,780 | $12.88 | $22,938 | $1,911 |
| 25th percentile | $34,480 | $16.58 | $28,716 | $2,393 |
| Median (50th) | $46,530 | $22.37 | $37,705 | $3,142 |
| 75th percentile | $65,690 | $31.58 | $51,999 | $4,333 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,200 | $36.63 | $58,869 | $4,906 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,530 buys in Roanoke, VA
Prices in Roanoke, VA are 6.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $37,705 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,276 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 less concentrated in Roanoke, VA than nationally (location quotient 0.69), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Roanoke, VA ranks #12 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 |
| 12 | Roanoke, VA | $46,530 | $37,705 | $40,276 |
*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 Virginia
- Charlottesville, VA — $48,210
- Virginia Beach, VA — $46,700
- Richmond, VA — $46,070
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Roanoke, VA?
The median bartender salary in the Roanoke, VA metro area is $46,530 a year, or about $22.37 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,480 and $65,690.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Roanoke, VA?
On the median $46,530 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $37,705 a year ($3,142 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,861 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Roanoke, VA a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 35% above the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 6.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,276 would in a typical U.S. city. Roanoke, VA ranks #12 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Roanoke, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Roanoke, VA is $1,020 a month ($1,200 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Roanoke, VA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,440
- Waiter and Waitress — $37,380
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,670
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,920
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,790
- Dishwasher — $28,790
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,720