Arkansas Median
$25,090
per year
Hourly Rate
$12.06
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-27% vs US median
US median $34,340
State Rank
#42 of 51
3,020 employed here
How much does a Bartender make in Arkansas?
Bartenders in Arkansas take home a median of $25,090 annually — roughly $12.06 an hour — which runs 27% below the national median of $34,340.
Within Arkansas, entry-level pay starts around $22,880 while the top 10% make $56,830 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $23,350 and $31,840 a year.
Bartender salary range in Arkansas
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,880 | $11.00 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $23,350 | $11.23 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $25,090 | $12.06 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $31,840 | $15.31 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,830 | $27.32 |
|
How Arkansas compares
Arkansas ranks 42nd out of 51 states and territories for Bartender pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Bartender salary in other states
Hawaii $76,490New York $61,210Washington $55,830District of Columbia $53,920Maine $48,920Virginia $47,070Vermont $45,450Arizona $45,070New Jersey $44,020Oregon $38,900Connecticut $38,780Colorado $38,170Maryland $37,580Massachusetts $37,440New Mexico $36,980Delaware $36,840Michigan $36,780North Carolina $36,470Rhode Island $36,410California $36,220Florida $35,150Utah $32,150Illinois $31,200Ohio $30,880Alaska $30,460Nebraska $30,180Missouri $30,090West Virginia $29,630South Dakota $29,400North Dakota $29,040New Hampshire $28,800Kentucky $28,780Pennsylvania $28,420Mississippi $28,320Alabama $27,980Kansas $27,940Tennessee $27,480Nevada $27,460Idaho $27,240Minnesota $26,900Montana $26,010Oklahoma $24,790Wisconsin $23,460Georgia $22,830Indiana $22,770Texas $22,690Wyoming $22,030Iowa $21,720Louisiana $20,850South Carolina $19,370
Working as a Bartender in Arkansas
Nationally, about 756,000 people work as Bartenders in the United States. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
Considering a move? Compare Arkansas pay ($25,090) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Bartender make in Arkansas?
The median Bartender salary in Arkansas is $25,090 per year, or about $12.06 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $22,880 at the entry level to $56,830 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Arkansas pay compare to the national average?
Arkansas pays Bartenders about 27% less than the national median of $34,340. Arkansas ranks 42nd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Arkansas a good state for Bartenders?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $25,090 a year. About 3,020 Bartenders are employed in Arkansas. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Arkansas?
The highest-paying occupations in Arkansas include Dermatologist ($422,060), Neurologist ($317,880), Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric ($262,470), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Bartender salary report
Related salaries
$31,200
median pay · 433,000 employed
$35,840
median pay · 85,000 employed
$44,080
median pay · 1,223,000 employed
$37,690
median pay · 19,000 employed
$30,890
median pay · 641,000 employed
$37,450
median pay · 441,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.