Bartender Salary in Tucson, AZ
Bartenders in the Tucson, AZ metro area earn a median $36,450 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,765 take-home, or $2,564 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Tucson, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,194
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,260
- Medicare (1.45%)$529
- Arizona income tax$703
- Take-home pay$30,765
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.50% state
Bartender pay by experience in Tucson, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,580 | $14.70 | $26,195 | $2,183 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 | $26,678 | $2,223 |
| Median (50th) | $36,450 | $17.52 | $30,765 | $2,564 |
| 75th percentile | $61,600 | $29.62 | $50,344 | $4,195 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,590 | $39.23 | $64,398 | $5,366 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,450 buys in Tucson, AZ
Prices in Tucson, AZ are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 8% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $30,765 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,751 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 Tucson, AZ as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.97).
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Tucson, AZ ranks #51 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 |
| 51 | Tucson, AZ | $36,450 | $30,765 | $31,751 |
*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 Arizona
- Phoenix, AZ — $46,940
- Prescott Valley, AZ — $42,340
- Flagstaff, AZ — $36,270
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Tucson, AZ?
The median bartender salary in the Tucson, AZ metro area is $36,450 a year, or about $17.52 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,200 and $61,600.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Tucson, AZ?
On the median $36,450 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $30,765 a year ($2,564 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $703 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Tucson, AZ a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,751 would in a typical U.S. city. Tucson, AZ ranks #51 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Tucson, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tucson, AZ is $1,081 a month ($1,402 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 Tucson, AZ
- Chef and Head Cook — $49,990
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,200
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,620
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,500
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,490
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,260
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,990
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $33,560
- Dishwasher — $33,490
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $32,010
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,690
- Cooks, Fast Food — $30,830