Kentucky Median
$28,780
per year
Hourly Rate
$13.84
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-16% vs US median
US median $34,340
State Rank
#32 of 51
6,870 employed here
How much does a Bartender make in Kentucky?
Bartenders in Kentucky take home a median of $28,780 annually — roughly $13.84 an hour — which runs 16% below the national median of $34,340.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $16,110 while the top 10% make $63,140 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $17,920 and $45,770 a year.
Bartender salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,110 | $7.75 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $17,920 | $8.62 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $28,780 | $13.84 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $45,770 | $22.00 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,140 | $30.36 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 32nd 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 $28,800Pennsylvania $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 Kentucky
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 Kentucky pay ($28,780) 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 Kentucky?
The median Bartender salary in Kentucky is $28,780 per year, or about $13.84 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $16,110 at the entry level to $63,140 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Bartenders about 16% less than the national median of $34,340. Kentucky ranks 32nd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Bartenders?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $28,780 a year. About 6,870 Bartenders are employed in Kentucky. 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 Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), 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.