Bartender salary in Colorado
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A bartender in Colorado earns a median of $38,170 a year ($18.35/hour equivalent), 11.2% above the national median of $34,340. Colorado ranks #12 of 51 states. About 17,000 people do this job in Colorado.
Take-home pay in Colorado
At the Colorado median, a single filer keeps about $31,711 a year after federal, FICA and Colorado taxes — $1,220 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Colorado paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,468.08
- Federal income tax
- −$92.32
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$91.02
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$21.29
- Colorado income tax
- −$37.35
- CO FAMLI
- −$6.46
- Take-home pay
- $1,219.64
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $38,170
- Federal
- $2,400
- FICA
- $2,920
- State + local
- $1,139
- Net
- $31,711
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 4.4%
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.
How Colorado compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Hawaii | $76,490 |
| #2 | New York | $61,210 |
| #3 | Washington | $55,830 |
| #4 | District of Columbia | $53,920 |
| #5 | Maine | $48,920 |
| #12 | Colorado | $38,170 |
| #49 | Iowa | $21,720 |
| #50 | Louisiana | $20,850 |
| #51 | South Carolina | $19,370 |
See the national bartender salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Bartenders (SOC 35-3011), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Colorado?
The median salary is $38,170 a year and the average is $51,250 (BLS May 2025).
Is Colorado a good state for bartenders?
Colorado ranks #12 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 11% above the national median of $34,340.
What is $38,170 after taxes in Colorado?
About $31,711 a year ($1,220 every two weeks) 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.