SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Mix and serve drinks to patrons, directly or through waitstaff.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 35-3011.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $20,110 | $1,676 | $387 | $9.67 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $27,400 | $2,283 | $527 | $13.17 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $34,340 | $2,862 | $660 | $16.51 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $47,570 | $3,964 | $915 | $22.87 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $73,770 | $6,148 | $1,419 | $35.47 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Bartenders is $34,340, which is 33% lower. Among the 17 occupations of the field Food Preparation and Serving Related, it ranks number 13 by median pay. With 756,390 jobs, it makes up about 49 of every 10,000 jobs in the country. The average ($40,790) is well above the median, a sign that a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up.
Bartenders pay by state
The highest median pay was in Hawaii ($76,490), Virgin Islands ($61,380) and New York ($61,210). The lowest was in South Carolina ($19,370), Guam ($20,700) and Louisiana ($20,850). The most jobs were in California (71,470), Texas (59,000) and Florida (55,170). The occupation is most concentrated in Virgin Islands, where its share of all jobs is 3.1 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 3,540 | $76,490 | $76,740 | $36.78 |
| Virgin Islands | 490 | $61,380 | $57,820 | $29.51 |
| New York | 43,130 | $61,210 | $61,670 | $29.43 |
| Washington | 16,800 | $55,830 | $60,010 | $26.84 |
| District of Columbia | 5,760 | $53,920 | $59,210 | $25.92 |
| Maine | 3,230 | $48,920 | $58,520 | $23.52 |
| Virginia | 13,370 | $47,070 | $54,200 | $22.63 |
| Vermont | 2,080 | $45,450 | $51,780 | $21.85 |
| Arizona | 14,840 | $45,070 | $54,030 | $21.67 |
| New Jersey | 16,260 | $44,020 | $51,440 | $21.16 |
| Oregon | 11,950 | $38,900 | $46,080 | $18.70 |
| Connecticut | 7,680 | $38,780 | $51,020 | $18.64 |
| Colorado | 17,000 | $38,170 | $51,250 | $18.35 |
| Maryland | 13,020 | $37,580 | $45,180 | $18.07 |
| Massachusetts | 19,850 | $37,440 | $45,120 | $18.00 |
| New Mexico | 3,790 | $36,980 | $41,500 | $17.78 |
| Delaware | 2,820 | $36,840 | $42,890 | $17.71 |
| Michigan | 21,100 | $36,780 | $44,470 | $17.68 |
| North Carolina | 20,070 | $36,470 | $41,200 | $17.53 |
| Rhode Island | 3,170 | $36,410 | $46,090 | $17.51 |
| California | 71,470 | $36,220 | $44,780 | $17.41 |
| Florida | 55,170 | $35,150 | $42,280 | $16.90 |
| Utah | 3,350 | $32,150 | $40,430 | $15.46 |
| Illinois | 43,010 | $31,200 | $35,550 | $15.00 |
| Ohio | 27,420 | $30,880 | $39,420 | $14.84 |
| Alaska | 2,280 | $30,460 | $36,560 | $14.65 |
| Nebraska | 7,320 | $30,180 | $38,350 | $14.51 |
| Missouri | 14,410 | $30,090 | $38,170 | $14.47 |
| West Virginia | 3,340 | $29,630 | $37,910 | $14.24 |
| South Dakota | 3,930 | $29,400 | $31,940 | $14.14 |
| North Dakota | 3,960 | $29,040 | $33,390 | $13.96 |
| New Hampshire | 3,840 | $28,800 | $40,730 | $13.85 |
| Kentucky | 6,870 | $28,780 | $34,970 | $13.84 |
| Pennsylvania | 37,490 | $28,420 | $35,460 | $13.66 |
| Mississippi | 2,770 | $28,320 | $36,510 | $13.62 |
| Alabama | 6,560 | $27,980 | $32,220 | $13.45 |
| Kansas | 5,430 | $27,940 | $35,780 | $13.43 |
| Tennessee | 10,330 | $27,480 | $31,180 | $13.21 |
| Nevada | 16,830 | $27,460 | $36,210 | $13.20 |
| Idaho | 3,430 | $27,240 | $32,670 | $13.10 |
| Minnesota | 24,420 | $26,900 | $30,680 | $12.93 |
| Montana | 5,370 | $26,010 | $27,210 | $12.51 |
| Arkansas | 3,020 | $25,090 | $32,850 | $12.06 |
| Oklahoma | 5,860 | $24,790 | $29,260 | $11.92 |
| Wisconsin | 29,520 | $23,460 | $26,970 | $11.28 |
| Georgia | 14,600 | $22,830 | $30,330 | $10.98 |
| Indiana | 12,880 | $22,770 | $27,780 | $10.95 |
| Texas | 59,000 | $22,690 | $32,640 | $10.91 |
| Puerto Rico | 3,480 | $22,630 | $28,160 | $10.88 |
| Wyoming | 2,660 | $22,030 | $29,000 | $10.59 |
| Iowa | 9,560 | $21,720 | $25,620 | $10.44 |
| Louisiana | 10,140 | $20,850 | $25,250 | $10.02 |
| Guam | 280 | $20,700 | $22,610 | $9.95 |
| South Carolina | 10,680 | $19,370 | $28,440 | $9.31 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Food Preparation Workers$35,320 a year
- Waiters and Waitresses$35,230 a year
- Dishwashers$34,810 a year
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$33,980 a year
- Fast Food and Counter Workers$31,200 a year
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$31,200 a year
Common questions
How much do Bartenders earn in the United States?
The median pay was $34,340 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $20,110 and the highest-paid 10% more than $73,770.
How many people work as Bartenders?
About 756,390 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.