Bartender Salary in Tuscaloosa, AL
Bartenders in the Tuscaloosa, AL metro area earn a median $26,830 a year — 22% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $22,628 take-home, or $1,886 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Tuscaloosa, AL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,073
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,663
- Medicare (1.45%)$389
- Alabama income tax$1,077
- Take-home pay$22,628
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 5.00% state
Bartender pay by experience in Tuscaloosa, AL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,530 | $8.43 | $15,434 | $1,286 |
| 25th percentile | $21,690 | $10.43 | $18,652 | $1,554 |
| Median (50th) | $26,830 | $12.90 | $22,628 | $1,886 |
| 75th percentile | $33,980 | $16.34 | $28,049 | $2,337 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $52,570 | $25.27 | $42,056 | $3,505 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alabama resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $26,830 buys in Tuscaloosa, AL
Prices in Tuscaloosa, AL are 12.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 42% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $22,628 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,795 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 Tuscaloosa, AL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.85).
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Tuscaloosa, AL ranks #154 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 |
| 154 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $26,830 | $22,628 | $25,795 |
*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 Alabama
- Birmingham, AL — $30,010
- Mobile, AL — $27,980
- Huntsville, AL — $28,210
- Montgomery, AL — $26,830
- Daphne, AL — $28,360
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Tuscaloosa, AL?
The median bartender salary in the Tuscaloosa, AL metro area is $26,830 a year, or about $12.90 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $21,690 and $33,980.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Tuscaloosa, AL?
On the median $26,830 salary, a single filer living in Alabama takes home about $22,628 a year ($1,886 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,077 in Alabama taxes in 2026.
Is Tuscaloosa, AL a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 22% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 12.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,795 would in a typical U.S. city. Tuscaloosa, AL ranks #154 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Tuscaloosa, AL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tuscaloosa, AL is $943 a month ($1,141 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 Tuscaloosa, AL
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,140
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $31,700
- Cooks, Restaurant — $30,690
- Food Preparation Worker — $28,530
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,030
- Waiter and Waitress — $26,930
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $24,630