Median Salary
$34,340
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$16.51
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$73,770
entry level starts ~$20,110
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 756,000 employed
How much does a Bartender make?
Bartenders in the United States bring home a median salary of $34,340 a year, or around $16.51 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $20,110, while the top 10% earn $73,770.
That is $27,050 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Bartender salary range by percentile
Half of all Bartenders earn between $27,400 and $47,570 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,110 | $9.67 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $27,400 | $13.17 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $34,340 | $16.51 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $47,570 | $22.87 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,770 | $35.47 |
|
Highest-paying states for Bartender
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Hawaii leads the country for Bartender pay at $76,490 a year, followed by New York ($61,210) and Washington ($55,830). At the other end, South Carolina posts the lowest median at $19,370 — a gap of $57,120 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Bartender salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
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 $26,010Arkansas $25,090Oklahoma $24,790Wisconsin $23,460Georgia $22,830Indiana $22,770Texas $22,690Wyoming $22,030Iowa $21,720Louisiana $20,850South Carolina $19,370
Workforce and education
About 756,000 people work as Bartenders in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $40,790 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: no college degree is required — most training happens on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Bartender make in the United States?
The median Bartender salary in the United States is $34,340 per year, or about $16.51 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $20,110, while the top 10% of earners make $73,770 or more.
How does Bartender pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Bartender median of $34,340 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Bartenders the most?
Hawaii is the highest-paying state for Bartenders, with a median salary of $76,490 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Bartender?
Becoming a Bartender typically requires no formal schooling beyond basic training. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
How many Bartenders work in the United States?
About 756,000 people were employed as Bartenders in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.