Bartender Salary in Rockford, IL
Bartenders in the Rockford, IL metro area earn a median $31,200 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,850 take-home, or $2,154 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Rockford, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,564
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,934
- Medicare (1.45%)$452
- Illinois income tax$1,400
- Take-home pay$25,850
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
Bartender pay by experience in Rockford, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| Median (50th) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| 75th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $40,520 | $19.48 | $32,877 | $2,740 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,200 buys in Rockford, IL
Prices in Rockford, IL are 7.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 30% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $25,850 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,050 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rockford, IL has 1.8× the national concentration of bartender jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Rockford, IL ranks #121 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 |
| 121 | Rockford, IL | $31,200 | $25,850 | $28,050 |
*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 Illinois
- Peoria, IL — $31,200
- Champaign, IL — $31,200
- Springfield, IL — $31,200
- Bloomington, IL — $31,200
- Chicago, IL — $31,200
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Rockford, IL?
The median bartender salary in the Rockford, IL metro area is $31,200 a year, or about $15.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,200 and $31,200.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Rockford, IL?
On the median $31,200 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $25,850 a year ($2,154 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,400 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Rockford, IL a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 9% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 7.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,050 would in a typical U.S. city. Rockford, IL ranks #121 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Rockford, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Rockford, IL is $895 a month ($1,175 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Rockford, IL
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,750
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,200
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $34,580
- Food Preparation Worker — $32,530
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $31,670
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,640
- Waiter and Waitress — $31,200