Michigan Median
$36,780
per year
Hourly Rate
$17.68
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+7% vs US median
US median $34,340
State Rank
#17 of 51
21,100 employed here
How much does a Bartender make in Michigan?
A Bartender working in Michigan earns a median salary of $36,780 per year, or about $17.68 per hour. That is 7% above the national median of $34,340 for this occupation.
Within Michigan, entry-level pay starts around $25,960 while the top 10% make $76,090 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $28,640 and $57,310 a year.
Bartender salary range in Michigan
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,960 | $12.48 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $28,640 | $13.77 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $36,780 | $17.68 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $57,310 | $27.55 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,090 | $36.58 |
|
How Michigan compares
Michigan ranks 17th 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 $36,840North 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 $26,010Arkansas $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 Michigan
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 Michigan pay ($36,780) 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 Michigan?
The median Bartender salary in Michigan is $36,780 per year, or about $17.68 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $25,960 at the entry level to $76,090 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Michigan pay compare to the national average?
Michigan pays Bartenders about 7% more than the national median of $34,340. Michigan ranks 17th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Michigan a good state for Bartenders?
Yes on pay — Michigan pays above the national median for this occupation, at $36,780 a year. About 21,100 Bartenders are employed in Michigan. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Michigan?
The highest-paying occupations in Michigan include Radiologist ($485,920), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($428,570), Cardiologist ($419,030), 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.