Bartenders Salary — US State Breakdown (2025)
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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). 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. Heading for a US interview? Interview prep guides cover the standard question frameworks.
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 |
Career Essentials
Role-specific interview prep for this occupation.
Check Price →Median Salary by State
| 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 |
Recommended Gear & Prep
Many people pair this data with a salary negotiation guide before accepting an offer.
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Data: BLS OES, May 2025 · ONS ASHE Table 14/15, 2025 provisional · Page built 2026-07-18