Bartender Salary in Tulsa, OK
Bartenders in the Tulsa, OK metro area earn a median $27,450 a year — 20% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $23,525 take-home, or $1,960 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Tulsa, OK. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,135
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,702
- Medicare (1.45%)$398
- Oklahoma income tax$690
- Take-home pay$23,525
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 4.50% state
Bartender pay by experience in Tulsa, OK
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,250 | $7.81 | $14,806 | $1,234 |
| 25th percentile | $18,370 | $8.83 | $16,457 | $1,371 |
| Median (50th) | $27,450 | $13.20 | $23,525 | $1,960 |
| 75th percentile | $37,130 | $17.85 | $30,889 | $2,574 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,940 | $23.05 | $39,088 | $3,257 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oklahoma resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $27,450 buys in Tulsa, OK
Prices in Tulsa, OK are 10.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 32% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $23,525 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,370 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 less concentrated in Tulsa, OK than nationally (location quotient 0.77), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Tulsa, OK ranks #149 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 |
| 149 | Tulsa, OK | $27,450 | $23,525 | $26,370 |
*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 Oklahoma
- Oklahoma City, OK — $24,790
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Tulsa, OK?
The median bartender salary in the Tulsa, OK metro area is $27,450 a year, or about $13.20 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $18,370 and $37,130.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Tulsa, OK?
On the median $27,450 salary, a single filer living in Oklahoma takes home about $23,525 a year ($1,960 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $690 in Oklahoma taxes in 2026.
Is Tulsa, OK a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 20% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 10.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,370 would in a typical U.S. city. Tulsa, OK ranks #149 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Tulsa, OK?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tulsa, OK is $976 a month ($1,204 for two bedrooms) — 50% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Tulsa, OK
- Chef and Head Cook — $54,930
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,900
- Cooks, Restaurant — $33,410
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $30,750
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $30,430
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,370
- Dishwasher — $28,600
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,100
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $27,700
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $26,460
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $24,960
- Waiter and Waitress — $18,350