Bartender Salary in San Antonio, TX
Bartenders in the San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro area earn a median $21,980 a year — 36% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $19,711 take-home, or $1,643 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in San Antonio, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$588
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,363
- Medicare (1.45%)$319
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$19,711
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 0.00% state
Bartender pay by experience in San Antonio, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,380 | $7.88 | $15,099 | $1,258 |
| 25th percentile | $17,410 | $8.37 | $15,947 | $1,329 |
| Median (50th) | $21,980 | $10.57 | $19,711 | $1,643 |
| 75th percentile | $35,280 | $16.96 | $30,527 | $2,544 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,500 | $26.20 | $45,971 | $3,831 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $21,980 buys in San Antonio, TX
Prices in San Antonio, TX are 5.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 5% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $19,711 take-home pay has the buying power of $20,810 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 San Antonio, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.02).
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
San Antonio, TX ranks #210 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 |
| 210 | San Antonio, TX | $21,980 | $19,711 | $20,810 |
*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 Texas
- Beaumont, TX — $22,600
- Austin, TX — $23,670
- Killeen, TX — $21,280
- Dallas, TX — $24,170
- Waco, TX — $21,420
- Lubbock, TX — $20,990
- Houston, TX — $22,770
- Amarillo, TX — $21,050
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in San Antonio, TX?
The median bartender salary in the San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro area is $21,980 a year, or about $10.57 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $17,410 and $35,280.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in San Antonio, TX?
On the median $21,980 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $19,711 a year ($1,643 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is San Antonio, TX a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 36% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 5.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $20,810 would in a typical U.S. city. San Antonio, TX ranks #210 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in San Antonio, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Antonio, TX is $1,171 a month ($1,419 for two bedrooms) — 71% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Antonio, TX
- Chef and Head Cook — $48,900
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,850
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,250
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,860
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,390
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $30,280
- Cooks, Fast Food — $30,110
- Dishwasher — $29,850
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $28,740
- Waiter and Waitress — $28,110
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,810
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $27,640