Bartender salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A bartender earns a median of $34,340 a year ($16.51 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $40,790. About 756,390 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $34,340
- Gross pay
- $1,320.77
- Federal income tax
- −$74.65
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$81.89
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$19.15
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,145.08
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $34,340
- Federal
- $1,941
- FICA
- $2,627
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $29,772
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Bartender salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $76,490 | $76,740 | 3,540 |
| New York | $61,210 | $61,670 | 43,130 |
| Washington | $55,830 | $60,010 | 16,800 |
| District of Columbia | $53,920 | $59,210 | 5,760 |
| Maine | $48,920 | $58,520 | 3,230 |
| Virginia | $47,070 | $54,200 | 13,370 |
| Vermont | $45,450 | $51,780 | 2,080 |
| Arizona | $45,070 | $54,030 | 14,840 |
| New Jersey | $44,020 | $51,440 | 16,260 |
| Oregon | $38,900 | $46,080 | 11,950 |
| Connecticut | $38,780 | $51,020 | 7,680 |
| Colorado | $38,170 | $51,250 | 17,000 |
| Maryland | $37,580 | $45,180 | 13,020 |
| Massachusetts | $37,440 | $45,120 | 19,850 |
| New Mexico | $36,980 | $41,500 | 3,790 |
| Delaware | $36,840 | $42,890 | 2,820 |
| Michigan | $36,780 | $44,470 | 21,100 |
| North Carolina | $36,470 | $41,200 | 20,070 |
| Rhode Island | $36,410 | $46,090 | 3,170 |
| California | $36,220 | $44,780 | 71,470 |
| Florida | $35,150 | $42,280 | 55,170 |
| Utah | $32,150 | $40,430 | 3,350 |
| Illinois | $31,200 | $35,550 | 43,010 |
| Ohio | $30,880 | $39,420 | 27,420 |
| Alaska | $30,460 | $36,560 | 2,280 |
| Nebraska | $30,180 | $38,350 | 7,320 |
| Missouri | $30,090 | $38,170 | 14,410 |
| West Virginia | $29,630 | $37,910 | 3,340 |
| South Dakota | $29,400 | $31,940 | 3,930 |
| North Dakota | $29,040 | $33,390 | 3,960 |
| New Hampshire | $28,800 | $40,730 | 3,840 |
| Kentucky | $28,780 | $34,970 | 6,870 |
| Pennsylvania | $28,420 | $35,460 | 37,490 |
| Mississippi | $28,320 | $36,510 | 2,770 |
| Alabama | $27,980 | $32,220 | 6,560 |
| Kansas | $27,940 | $35,780 | 5,430 |
| Tennessee | $27,480 | $31,180 | 10,330 |
| Nevada | $27,460 | $36,210 | 16,830 |
| Idaho | $27,240 | $32,670 | 3,430 |
| Minnesota | $26,900 | $30,680 | 24,420 |
| Montana | $26,010 | $27,210 | 5,370 |
| Arkansas | $25,090 | $32,850 | 3,020 |
| Oklahoma | $24,790 | $29,260 | 5,860 |
| Wisconsin | $23,460 | $26,970 | 29,520 |
| Georgia | $22,830 | $30,330 | 14,600 |
| Indiana | $22,770 | $27,780 | 12,880 |
| Texas | $22,690 | $32,640 | 59,000 |
| Wyoming | $22,030 | $29,000 | 2,660 |
| Iowa | $21,720 | $25,620 | 9,560 |
| Louisiana | $20,850 | $25,250 | 10,140 |
| South Carolina | $19,370 | $28,440 | 10,680 |
Similar jobs
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper: $33,980
- Dishwasher: $34,810
- Waiter and Waitress: $35,230
- Food Preparation Worker: $35,320
- Food Server: $35,360
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker: $35,840
- Cook: $35,880
- Cook: $37,390
BLS occupation: Bartenders. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 35-3011). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $16.51; the average is $19.61.
Which state pays bartenders the most?
Hawaii ($76,490 median), followed by New York and Washington.
What is the salary range for a bartender?
The bottom 10% earn under $20,110 and the top 10% earn over $73,770 a year.
How much is $34,340 after taxes?
About $29,772 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $28,969 in California for a single filer in 2026.
Your business here? Sponsor this calculator from $19/week. See placements
Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.