California Median
$36,220
per year
Hourly Rate
$17.41
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+5% vs US median
US median $34,340
State Rank
#20 of 51
71,470 employed here
How much does a Bartender make in California?
A Bartender working in California earns a median salary of $36,220 per year, or about $17.41 per hour. That is 5% above the national median of $34,340 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $34,320 while the top 10% make $75,130 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $34,660 and $40,990 a year.
Bartender salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,320 | $16.50 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $34,660 | $16.66 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $36,220 | $17.41 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $40,990 | $19.71 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,130 | $36.12 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 20th 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 $36,410Florida $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 $26,010Arkansas $25,090Oklahoma $24,790Wisconsin $23,460Georgia $22,830Indiana $22,770Texas $22,690Wyoming $22,030Iowa $21,720Louisiana $20,850South Carolina $19,370
Working as a Bartender in California
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 California pay ($36,220) 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 California?
The median Bartender salary in California is $36,220 per year, or about $17.41 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $34,320 at the entry level to $75,130 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Bartenders about 5% more than the national median of $34,340. California ranks 20th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Bartenders?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $36,220 a year. About 71,470 Bartenders are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Bartender salary report
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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.