SOC 35-3011 · May 2025
Bartender Salary
Bartenders in the US earn a median of $34,340 a year ($19.61 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Bartender pay climbed from $28,000 in 2019 to $40,790 in 2025, a +45.7% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$34,340
Half of all Bartenders in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+45.7% since 2019 · +2.3% YoY
Hourly
$19.61
Job growth 2025-35
+5%
US workers
756,390
BLS series
Annual median wage for Bartenders in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Bartenders is $20,110 – $73,770.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$20,110
25th
$27,400
Median
$34,340
75th
$47,570
90th
$73,770
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Bartenders. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $20,110 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $27,400 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $34,340 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $47,570 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $73,770 |
Geography
Bartender pay by state
Bartenders earn the most in Hawaii ($76,490, +123% against the national median) and the least in South Carolina ($19,370). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$34,340
Highest-paying states for bartenders
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $76,490 | +123% | 3,540 |
| New York | $61,210 | +78% | 43,130 |
| Washington | $55,830 | +63% | 16,800 |
| D.C. | $53,920 | +57% | 5,760 |
| Maine | $48,920 | +42% | 3,230 |
| Virginia | $47,070 | +37% | 13,370 |
| Vermont | $45,450 | +32% | 2,080 |
| Arizona | $45,070 | +31% | 14,840 |
| New Jersey | $44,020 | +28% | 16,260 |
| Oregon | $38,900 | +13% | 11,950 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $76,490 | 3,540 |
| New York | $61,210 | 43,130 |
| Washington | $55,830 | 16,800 |
| D.C. | $53,920 | 5,760 |
| Maine | $48,920 | 3,230 |
| Virginia | $47,070 | 13,370 |
| Vermont | $45,450 | 2,080 |
| Arizona | $45,070 | 14,840 |
| New Jersey | $44,020 | 16,260 |
| Oregon | $38,900 | 11,950 |
| Connecticut | $38,780 | 7,680 |
| Colorado | $38,170 | 17,000 |
| Maryland | $37,580 | 13,020 |
| Massachusetts | $37,440 | 19,850 |
| New Mexico | $36,980 | 3,790 |
| Delaware | $36,840 | 2,820 |
| Michigan | $36,780 | 21,100 |
| North Carolina | $36,470 | 20,070 |
| Rhode Island | $36,410 | 3,170 |
| California | $36,220 | 71,470 |
| Florida | $35,150 | 55,170 |
| Utah | $32,150 | 3,350 |
| Illinois | $31,200 | 43,010 |
| Ohio | $30,880 | 27,420 |
| Alaska | $30,460 | 2,280 |
| Nebraska | $30,180 | 7,320 |
| Missouri | $30,090 | 14,410 |
| West Virginia | $29,630 | 3,340 |
| South Dakota | $29,400 | 3,930 |
| North Dakota | $29,040 | 3,960 |
| New Hampshire | $28,800 | 3,840 |
| Kentucky | $28,780 | 6,870 |
| Pennsylvania | $28,420 | 37,490 |
| Mississippi | $28,320 | 2,770 |
| Alabama | $27,980 | 6,560 |
| Kansas | $27,940 | 5,430 |
| Tennessee | $27,480 | 10,330 |
| Nevada | $27,460 | 16,830 |
| Idaho | $27,240 | 3,430 |
| Minnesota | $26,900 | 24,420 |
| Montana | $26,010 | 5,370 |
| Arkansas | $25,090 | 3,020 |
| Oklahoma | $24,790 | 5,860 |
| Wisconsin | $23,460 | 29,520 |
| Georgia | $22,830 | 14,600 |
| Indiana | $22,770 | 12,880 |
| Texas | $22,690 | 59,000 |
| Wyoming | $22,030 | 2,660 |
| Iowa | $21,720 | 9,560 |
| Louisiana | $20,850 | 10,140 |
| South Carolina | $19,370 | 10,680 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Bartenders
Bartenders prepare and serve alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in restaurants, bars, hotels, and event venues. The role combines mixology, customer service, point-of-sale operations, and responsible alcohol service. Most jurisdictions require alcohol-server certification. OEWS figures exclude tip income, which often equals or exceeds wages for bartenders in busy urban venues, making national wage data substantially understate total earnings.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $20,110 – $73,770. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Hawaii, New York and Washington. Pay in Hawaii runs 3.9 times the level in South Carolina, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as no formal educational credential, and projects about 121,200 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 5% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Bartender salary in the US?
How much does a Bartender make an hour?
How much do Bartenders make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Bartenders the most?
Is the average Bartender salary higher than the median?
Is Bartender a growing career?
Open positions
Open Bartender roles hiring now
Browse current Bartender listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 35-3011. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.