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Bartender Salary

Updated

The median bartender in the U.S. earns $34,340 a year ($16.51 an hour). Half earn between $27,400 and $47,570. Among the 50 largest metro areas, pay is highest in New York, NY ($61,220) and lowest in San Antonio, TX ($21,980).

Percentiles. Dark: the middle half of earners. Red line: median.
Bartenders, May 2025.
Annual payU.S.
10th percentile$20,110
25th percentile$27,400
Median$34,340
75th percentile$47,570
90th percentile$73,770
Average$40,790
Jobs756,390

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Bartender pay by city

Median annual pay, May 2025, by metro area. Compared with the U.S. median ($34,340).
CityMedianvs U.S.
New York, NY$61,220+78%
Seattle, WA$58,180+69%
Washington, DC$48,030+40%
Phoenix, AZ$46,940+37%
Buffalo, NY$46,920+37%
Virginia Beach, VA$46,700+36%
Richmond, VA$46,070+34%
Portland, OR$45,590+33%
San Jose, CA$42,270+23%
San Francisco, CA$39,670+16%
Grand Rapids, MI$38,430+12%
Boston, MA$37,760+10%
Tampa, FL$37,460+9%
Charlotte, NC$37,390+9%
Baltimore, MD$37,360+9%
Hartford, CT$37,290+9%
Denver, CO$37,180+8%
Columbus, OH$37,000+8%
Detroit, MI$36,780+7%
San Diego, CA$36,260+6%
Raleigh, NC$36,120+5%
Philadelphia, PA$36,040+5%
Providence, RI$35,680+4%
Los Angeles, CA$35,510+3%
Sacramento, CA$35,510+3%
Jacksonville, FL$35,450+3%
Riverside, CA$34,840+1%
Miami, FL$34,700+1%
Cincinnati, OH$34,240same
Las Vegas, NV$33,750−2%
Orlando, FL$33,650−2%
Cleveland, OH$33,470−3%
Chicago, IL$31,200−9%
St. Louis, MO$31,200−9%
Kansas City, MO$30,300−12%
Birmingham, AL$30,010−13%
Salt Lake City, UT$29,790−13%
Pittsburgh, PA$29,750−13%
Louisville, KY$29,120−15%
Memphis, TN$28,710−16%
Nashville, TN$28,190−18%
Minneapolis, MN$27,600−20%
Milwaukee, WI$25,970−24%
Oklahoma City, OK$24,790−28%
Dallas, TX$24,170−30%
Austin, TX$23,670−31%
Atlanta, GA$23,350−32%
Indianapolis, IN$22,880−33%
Houston, TX$22,770−34%
San Antonio, TX$21,980−36%

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Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.