How much does a bartender make in San Jose?
$42,270a year
Median yearly pay for bartenders in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area. That is $20.32 an hour or $3,523 a month.
- Hourly
- $20.32
- Vs. national median
- +23%
- Rank among cities
- 47 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 2,790
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $38,550Median: $42,270Highest 10%: $80,170
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,550 | $18.53 | |
| 25th | $39,570 | $19.02 | |
| Median | $42,270 | $20.32 | |
| 75th | $44,520 | $21.40 | |
| 90th | $80,170 | $38.54 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for bartenders.
| San Francisco, CA | $39,670 |
| Napa, CA | $37,790 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $37,680 |
| Vallejo, CA | $36,870 |
| Salinas, CA | $36,350 |
| San Diego, CA | $36,260 |
| 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 Jose
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $79,020 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $55,520 |
| Cook | $51,880 |
| Cook | $47,220 |
| Cook | $47,170 |
| Food Server | $46,210 |
| Cook | $45,990 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $45,580 |
| Cook | $44,740 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $44,720 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make an hour in San Jose?
The median hourly pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $20.32 ($42,270 a year).
Do bartenders make more in San Jose than the national average?
Yes: $42,270 against $34,340 nationally, 23% more.
How does San Jose compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $36,220, so San Jose pays 17% more.
Where does San Jose rank for bartender pay?
47 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a bartender make starting out in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% make $38,550 or less a year; the top 10% make $80,170 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.