How much does a bartender make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $16.51 an hour or $2,862 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.51
- Average (mean)
- $40,790
- Jobs
- 756,390
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $20,110 | $9.67 | |
| 25th | $27,400 | $13.17 | |
| Median | $34,340 | $16.51 | |
| 75th | $47,570 | $22.87 | |
| 90th | $73,770 | $35.47 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Hawaii | $76,490 |
| New York | $61,210 |
| Washington | $55,830 |
| District of Columbia | $53,920 |
| Maine | $48,920 |
| Virginia | $47,070 |
| Vermont | $45,450 |
| Arizona | $45,070 |
| New Jersey | $44,020 |
| Oregon | $38,900 |
| Connecticut | $38,780 |
| Colorado | $38,170 |
| Maryland | $37,580 |
| Massachusetts | $37,440 |
| New Mexico | $36,980 |
| Delaware | $36,840 |
| Michigan | $36,780 |
| North Carolina | $36,470 |
| Rhode Island | $36,410 |
| California | $36,220 |
| Florida | $35,150 |
| Utah | $32,150 |
| Illinois | $31,200 |
| Ohio | $30,880 |
| Alaska | $30,460 |
| Nebraska | $30,180 |
| Missouri | $30,090 |
| West Virginia | $29,630 |
| South Dakota | $29,400 |
| North Dakota | $29,040 |
| New Hampshire | $28,800 |
| Kentucky | $28,780 |
| Pennsylvania | $28,420 |
| Mississippi | $28,320 |
| Alabama | $27,980 |
| Kansas | $27,940 |
| Tennessee | $27,480 |
| Nevada | $27,460 |
| Idaho | $27,240 |
| Minnesota | $26,900 |
| Montana | $26,010 |
| Arkansas | $25,090 |
| Oklahoma | $24,790 |
| Wisconsin | $23,460 |
| Georgia | $22,830 |
| Indiana | $22,770 |
| Texas | $22,690 |
| Wyoming | $22,030 |
| Iowa | $21,720 |
| Louisiana | $20,850 |
| South Carolina | $19,370 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Kahului, HI | $86,280 |
| Honolulu, HI | $75,340 |
| New York, NY | $61,220 |
| Seattle, WA | $58,180 |
| Mount Vernon, WA | $56,640 |
| Bellingham, WA | $56,110 |
| Kennewick, WA | $55,820 |
| Portland, ME | $54,170 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $54,030 |
| Bremerton, WA | $53,810 |
| Spokane, WA | $50,210 |
| Olympia, WA | $50,180 |
| Longview, WA | $49,930 |
| Yakima, WA | $49,700 |
| Burlington, VT | $49,070 |
In other countries
Bartender belongs to the international group "Bartenders".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Fast Food and Counter Worker$31,200
- Waiter and Waitress$35,230
- Food Server$35,360
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $16.51 ($34,340 a year).
How much does a bartender make a month?
About $2,862 a month before tax, based on a median of $34,340 a year.
How much does a bartender make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $20,110 or less a year ($9.67 an hour); the top 10% make $73,770 or more.
Which state pays bartenders the most?
Hawaii, with a median of $76,490 a year, followed by New York ($61,210) and Washington ($55,830).
Which city pays bartenders the most?
Kahului-Wailuku, HI, with a median of $86,280 a year.
How many bartenders are there in the United States?
About 756,390 people work as bartenders.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.