Bartender Salary in Rochester, MN
Bartenders in the Rochester, MN metro area earn a median $27,000 a year — 21% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $23,219 take-home, or $1,935 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Rochester, MN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,090
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,674
- Medicare (1.45%)$392
- Minnesota income tax$626
- Take-home pay$23,219
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 5.35% state
Bartender pay by experience in Rochester, MN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,210 | $11.16 | $20,300 | $1,692 |
| 25th percentile | $23,830 | $11.46 | $20,778 | $1,731 |
| Median (50th) | $27,000 | $12.98 | $23,219 | $1,935 |
| 75th percentile | $31,470 | $15.13 | $26,601 | $2,217 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,280 | $18.88 | $32,459 | $2,705 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Minnesota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $27,000 buys in Rochester, MN
Prices in Rochester, MN are 9.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $23,219 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,565 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rochester, MN has 1.6× the national concentration of bartender jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Rochester, MN ranks #157 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 |
| 157 | Rochester, MN | $27,000 | $23,219 | $25,565 |
*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 Minnesota
- St. Cloud, MN — $25,970
- Mankato, MN — $24,710
- Duluth, MN — $23,540
- Minneapolis, MN — $27,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Rochester, MN?
The median bartender salary in the Rochester, MN metro area is $27,000 a year, or about $12.98 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $23,830 and $31,470.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Rochester, MN?
On the median $27,000 salary, a single filer living in Minnesota takes home about $23,219 a year ($1,935 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $626 in Minnesota taxes in 2026.
Is Rochester, MN a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 21% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 9.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,565 would in a typical U.S. city. Rochester, MN ranks #157 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Rochester, MN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Rochester, MN is $1,124 a month ($1,332 for two bedrooms) — 58% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Rochester, MN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,620
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,150
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,630
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,470
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,190
- Waiter and Waitress — $24,060