How much does a bartender make?
a year · about $17 an hour
A typical bartender in the United States makes $34,340 a year, about $17 an hour, below a typical US worker ($50,980) (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
A bartender welcomes customers, checks IDs, takes orders, mixes drinks, collects payment, and cleans the bar. Evening and weekend shifts can get busy, so bartenders serve quickly and coordinate with other staff.
Did you know? In the United States, bartenders spend an average of 98.3% of their workday standing—almost the whole shift!
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $20,110 and $73,770How do you become one?
In the United States, no special schooling is usually needed, but most states require bartenders to be at least 18. Learn recipes and bar setup on the job for a few weeks; some places also require a responsible-server course.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, experience, useful training or certification, location, and workplace type can all affect a bartender’s pay. Tips are included in reported pay, so hours and shifts can change what someone takes home.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Hawaii ($76,490), lowest in South Carolina ($19,370).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20,110 | $34,340 | $73,770 | about 756,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $76,490 | about 4,000 |
| New York | $61,210 | about 43,000 |
| Washington | $55,830 | about 17,000 |
| District of Columbia | $53,920 | about 6,000 |
| Maine | $48,920 | about 3,000 |
Official definition: Mix and serve drinks to patrons, directly or through waitstaff.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/food-preparation-and-serving/bartenders.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/35-3011.00
- www.bls.gov/ors/factsheet/pdf/bartenders.pdf
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY