Bartender Salary in San Diego, CA
Updated
The median bartender in the San Diego area earns $36,260 a year ($17.43 an hour), 6% above the U.S. median ($34,340) and about the same as the California median ($36,220). Half of the 8,740 bartenders there earn between $35,140 and $37,850.
Median $36,260
10th: $34,37090th: $82,100
| Annual pay | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,370 | $34,320 | $20,110 |
| 25th percentile | $35,140 | $34,660 | $27,400 |
| Median | $36,260 | $36,220 | $34,340 |
| 75th percentile | $37,850 | $40,990 | $47,570 |
| 90th percentile | $82,100 | $75,130 | $73,770 |
| Average | $46,900 | $44,780 | $40,790 |
| Jobs | 8,740 | 71,470 | 756,390 |
San Diego, CA ranks 20th of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas for bartender pay. Highest: New York, NY ($61,220).
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Check my payBartender pay in other cities
- San Jose, CA: $42,270
- San Francisco, CA: $39,670
- Los Angeles, CA: $35,510
- New York, NY: $61,220
- Seattle, WA: $58,180
- Washington, DC: $48,030
- Phoenix, AZ: $46,940
- Buffalo, NY: $46,920
- All cities
Similar jobs in San Diego, CA
- Fast Food Worker: $42,190
- Waiter: $35,850
- Restaurant Cook: $46,440
- Food Service Supervisor: $46,980
- Food Preparation Worker: $38,780
- All jobs in San Diego, CA
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, published May 15, 2026
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.