Bartender Salary in Wichita, KS
Bartenders in the Wichita, KS metro area earn a median $28,540 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,292 take-home, or $2,024 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Wichita, KS. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,245
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,769
- Medicare (1.45%)$414
- Kansas income tax$820
- Take-home pay$24,292
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.20% state
Bartender pay by experience in Wichita, KS
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,240 | $8.29 | $15,574 | $1,298 |
| 25th percentile | $21,470 | $10.32 | $18,838 | $1,570 |
| Median (50th) | $28,540 | $13.72 | $24,292 | $2,024 |
| 75th percentile | $51,220 | $24.63 | $41,277 | $3,440 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,420 | $31.45 | $51,894 | $4,325 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kansas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,540 buys in Wichita, KS
Prices in Wichita, KS are 11.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 34% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $24,292 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,310 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 Wichita, KS as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Wichita, KS ranks #140 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 |
| 140 | Wichita, KS | $28,540 | $24,292 | $27,310 |
*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
- Topeka, KS — $27,860
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Wichita, KS?
The median bartender salary in the Wichita, KS metro area is $28,540 a year, or about $13.72 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $21,470 and $51,220.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Wichita, KS?
On the median $28,540 salary, a single filer living in Kansas takes home about $24,292 a year ($2,024 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $820 in Kansas taxes in 2026.
Is Wichita, KS a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 11.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,310 would in a typical U.S. city. Wichita, KS ranks #140 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Wichita, KS?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Wichita, KS is $848 a month ($1,098 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 Wichita, KS
- Waiter and Waitress — $37,300
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,420
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,510
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $31,850
- Food Preparation Worker — $29,940
- Dishwasher — $28,640
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $27,870
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $27,550
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,420