Bartender salary in North Carolina
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A bartender in North Carolina earns a median of $36,470 a year ($17.53/hour equivalent), 6.2% above the national median of $34,340. North Carolina ranks #18 of 51 states. About 20,070 people do this job in North Carolina.
Take-home pay in North Carolina
At the North Carolina median, a single filer keeps about $30,537 a year after federal, FICA and North Carolina taxes — $1,175 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the North Carolina paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,402.69
- Federal income tax
- −$84.48
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$86.97
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$20.34
- North Carolina income tax
- −$36.40
- Take-home pay
- $1,174.51
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $36,470
- Federal
- $2,196
- FICA
- $2,790
- State + local
- $946
- Net
- $30,537
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 4.0%
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.
How North Carolina 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 |
| #18 | North Carolina | $36,470 |
| #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 North Carolina?
The median salary is $36,470 a year and the average is $41,200 (BLS May 2025).
Is North Carolina a good state for bartenders?
North Carolina ranks #18 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 6% above the national median of $34,340.
What is $36,470 after taxes in North Carolina?
About $30,537 a year ($1,175 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.