Bartenders Salary — US State Breakdown (2025)
✓ Sourced directly from BLS OES · Checked for accuracy at every rebuild · Last updated: 2026-09-02
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US Salary Overview
The national median wage for bartenders in the United States is $34,340 per year, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025) — real government survey data, not an algorithmic salary estimate. Pay ranges from $20,110 at the 10th percentile to $73,770 at the 90th percentile. In the UK, the equivalent occupation (Bar staff) has a median of £9,166 — figures are shown in local currency and are not converted. Signing a US offer? Employment contract templates at LawDepot cover offer letters, NDAs and employment agreements.
US Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual (gross) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $20,110 | Entry level / lowest decile |
| 25th | $27,400 | Early career |
| 50th (median) | $34,340 | Typical pay |
| 75th | $47,570 | Experienced |
| 90th | $73,770 | Senior / highest decile |
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| State | Median salary | Mean salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $76,490 | $76,740 | 4,000 |
| Virgin Islands | $61,380 | $57,820 | 490 |
| New York | $61,210 | $61,670 | 43,000 |
| Washington | $55,830 | $60,010 | 17,000 |
| District of Columbia | $53,920 | $59,210 | 6,000 |
| Maine | $48,920 | $58,520 | 3,000 |
| Virginia | $47,070 | $54,200 | 13,000 |
| Vermont | $45,450 | $51,780 | 2,000 |
| Arizona | $45,070 | $54,030 | 15,000 |
| New Jersey | $44,020 | $51,440 | 16,000 |
| Oregon | $38,900 | $46,080 | 12,000 |
| Connecticut | $38,780 | $51,020 | 8,000 |
| Colorado | $38,170 | $51,250 | 17,000 |
| Maryland | $37,580 | $45,180 | 13,000 |
| Massachusetts | $37,440 | $45,120 | 20,000 |
| New Mexico | $36,980 | $41,500 | 4,000 |
| Delaware | $36,840 | $42,890 | 3,000 |
| Michigan | $36,780 | $44,470 | 21,000 |
| North Carolina | $36,470 | $41,200 | 20,000 |
| Rhode Island | $36,410 | $46,090 | 3,000 |
| California | $36,220 | $44,780 | 71,000 |
| Florida | $35,150 | $42,280 | 55,000 |
| Utah | $32,150 | $40,430 | 3,000 |
| Illinois | $31,200 | $35,550 | 43,000 |
| Ohio | $30,880 | $39,420 | 27,000 |
| Alaska | $30,460 | $36,560 | 2,000 |
| Nebraska | $30,180 | $38,350 | 7,000 |
| Missouri | $30,090 | $38,170 | 14,000 |
| West Virginia | $29,630 | $37,910 | 3,000 |
| South Dakota | $29,400 | $31,940 | 4,000 |
| North Dakota | $29,040 | $33,390 | 4,000 |
| New Hampshire | $28,800 | $40,730 | 4,000 |
| Kentucky | $28,780 | $34,970 | 7,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $28,420 | $35,460 | 37,000 |
| Mississippi | $28,320 | $36,510 | 3,000 |
| Alabama | $27,980 | $32,220 | 7,000 |
| Kansas | $27,940 | $35,780 | 5,000 |
| Tennessee | $27,480 | $31,180 | 10,000 |
| Nevada | $27,460 | $36,210 | 17,000 |
| Idaho | $27,240 | $32,670 | 3,000 |
| Minnesota | $26,900 | $30,680 | 24,000 |
| Montana | $26,010 | $27,210 | 5,000 |
| Arkansas | $25,090 | $32,850 | 3,000 |
| Oklahoma | $24,790 | $29,260 | 6,000 |
| Wisconsin | $23,460 | $26,970 | 30,000 |
| Georgia | $22,830 | $30,330 | 15,000 |
| Indiana | $22,770 | $27,780 | 13,000 |
| Texas | $22,690 | $32,640 | 59,000 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,630 | $28,160 | 3,000 |
| Wyoming | $22,030 | $29,000 | 3,000 |
| Iowa | $21,720 | $25,620 | 10,000 |
| Louisiana | $20,850 | $25,250 | 10,000 |
| Guam | $20,700 | $22,610 | 280 |
| South Carolina | $19,370 | $28,440 | 11,000 |
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How Does This Compare to the UK?
Bartenders is the US equivalent of bar staff in the UK, which has a national median of £9,166. Figures are shown in local currency, not converted — cost of living, tax systems and benefits packages differ enough between the two countries that a currency conversion alone would be misleading. See the full UK breakdown, or use our comparison tool to set this role against another job title side by side, with location and experience-level filters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a bartenders in the US?
The US national median wage for bartenders is $34,340 per year (gross, before tax), based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
What is the pay range for bartenders in the US?
Pay ranges from $20,110 at the 10th percentile to $73,770 at the 90th percentile. This difference typically reflects experience level, employer size, and location.
Which US states pay bartenders the most?
The highest-paying states for bartenders include Hawaii ($76,490), Virgin Islands ($61,380), New York ($61,210). Pay varies by state due to cost of living, local demand and industry concentration.
How much does bartenders salary vary by state?
The gap between the highest- and lowest-paying states is significant — Hawaii ($76,490) pays roughly 295% more than South Carolina ($19,370). Check the state breakdown above for the exact figure in your location.
How does bartenders pay compare between the US and UK?
The UK equivalent role (Bar staff) has a national median of £9,166. Figures are shown in local currency rather than converted, since cost of living and tax systems differ enough between the two countries that a straight currency conversion would be misleading.
← Back to the UK-focused bar staff salary page
Data: BLS OES, May 2025 · ONS ASHE Table 14/15, 2025 provisional · Page built 2026-09-02