Bartender Salary in Topeka, KS
Bartenders in the Topeka, KS metro area earn a median $27,860 a year — 19% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $23,768 take-home, or $1,981 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Topeka, KS. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,176
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,727
- Medicare (1.45%)$404
- Kansas income tax$785
- Take-home pay$23,768
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 5.20% state
Bartender pay by experience in Topeka, KS
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,520 | $7.94 | $15,019 | $1,252 |
| 25th percentile | $19,290 | $9.27 | $17,156 | $1,430 |
| Median (50th) | $27,860 | $13.39 | $23,768 | $1,981 |
| 75th percentile | $49,830 | $23.96 | $40,238 | $3,353 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $67,580 | $32.49 | $53,401 | $4,450 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kansas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $27,860 buys in Topeka, KS
Prices in Topeka, KS are 11.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 35% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $23,768 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,759 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 Topeka, KS as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.83).
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Topeka, KS ranks #145 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 |
| 145 | Topeka, KS | $27,860 | $23,768 | $26,759 |
*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 Kansas
- Lawrence, KS — $29,980
- Wichita, KS — $28,540
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Topeka, KS?
The median bartender salary in the Topeka, KS metro area is $27,860 a year, or about $13.39 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $19,290 and $49,830.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Topeka, KS?
On the median $27,860 salary, a single filer living in Kansas takes home about $23,768 a year ($1,981 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $785 in Kansas taxes in 2026.
Is Topeka, KS a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 19% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 11.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,759 would in a typical U.S. city. Topeka, KS ranks #145 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Topeka, KS?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Topeka, KS is $820 a month ($1,057 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Topeka, KS
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,890
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,090
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,450
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $33,200
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,300
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,810