How much does a bartender make in San Diego?
$36,260a year
Median yearly pay for bartenders in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $17.43 an hour or $3,022 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.43
- Vs. national median
- +6%
- Rank among cities
- 99 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 8,740
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $34,370Median: $36,260Highest 10%: $82,100
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,370 | $16.52 | |
| 25th | $35,140 | $16.89 | |
| Median | $36,260 | $17.43 | |
| 75th | $37,850 | $18.20 | |
| 90th | $82,100 | $39.47 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for bartenders.
| San Jose, CA | $42,270 |
| San Francisco, CA | $39,670 |
| Napa, CA | $37,790 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $37,680 |
| Vallejo, CA | $36,870 |
| Salinas, CA | $36,350 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $36,100 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $35,810 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $35,630 |
| Oxnard, CA | $35,590 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $35,510 |
| Sacramento, CA | $35,510 |
| Hanford, CA | $35,240 |
| Modesto, CA | $35,100 |
| Riverside, CA | $34,840 |
| Stockton, CA | $34,770 |
| Merced, CA | $34,680 |
| El Centro, CA | $34,620 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $34,320 |
| Chico, CA | $34,320 |
| Fresno, CA | $34,320 |
| Redding, CA | $34,320 |
| Visalia, CA | $34,320 |
| Yuba City, CA | $34,320 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $60,600 |
| Cook | $47,100 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,980 |
| Cook | $46,440 |
| Cook | $42,450 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $42,190 |
| Cook | $38,870 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,780 |
| Dishwasher | $38,530 |
| Food Server | $38,260 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $17.43 ($36,260 a year).
Do bartenders make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $36,260 against $34,340 nationally, 6% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $36,220, so San Diego pays 0% more.
Where does San Diego rank for bartender pay?
99 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a bartender make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,370 or less a year; the top 10% make $82,100 or more.
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.