Bartender Salary in Scranton, PA
Bartenders in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area earn a median $28,010 a year — 18% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $23,816 take-home, or $1,985 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Scranton, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,191
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,737
- Medicare (1.45%)$406
- Pennsylvania income tax$860
- Take-home pay$23,816
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.07% state
Bartender pay by experience in Scranton, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,730 | $8.04 | $14,874 | $1,239 |
| 25th percentile | $19,200 | $9.23 | $16,832 | $1,403 |
| Median (50th) | $28,010 | $13.47 | $23,816 | $1,985 |
| 75th percentile | $44,990 | $21.63 | $36,948 | $3,079 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,240 | $30.88 | $51,825 | $4,319 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,010 buys in Scranton, PA
Prices in Scranton, PA are 6.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 33% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $23,816 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,457 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Scranton, PA has 1.2× the national concentration of bartender jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Scranton, PA ranks #161 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 |
| 161 | Scranton, PA | $28,010 | $23,816 | $25,457 |
*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 Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia, PA — $36,040
- Allentown, PA — $32,220
- Pittsburgh, PA — $29,750
- York, PA — $28,810
- Reading, PA — $28,260
- State College, PA — $28,100
- Lancaster, PA — $28,280
- Harrisburg, PA — $27,520
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Scranton, PA?
The median bartender salary in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area is $28,010 a year, or about $13.47 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $19,200 and $44,990.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Scranton, PA?
On the median $28,010 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $23,816 a year ($1,985 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $860 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Scranton, PA a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 18% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 6.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,457 would in a typical U.S. city. Scranton, PA ranks #161 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Scranton, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Scranton, PA is $1,028 a month ($1,252 for two bedrooms) — 52% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Scranton, PA
- Chef and Head Cook — $60,750
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,830
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,320
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,870
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $30,600
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,770
- Food Preparation Worker — $29,210
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,130
- Dishwasher — $28,100
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $27,720
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,520