Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Bartenders (SOC 35-3011) employed 756,390 people in May 2025. The median pay is $34,340 a year ($16.51 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $20,110 and the highest-paid 10% more than $73,770. BLS projects its employment to change by +5.0% between 2025 and 2035 (about 121,200 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: No formal educational credential.
Highest median pay: Hawaii ($76,490), New York ($61,210), Washington ($55,830). Most jobs: California (71,470), Texas (59,000), Florida (55,170).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,110 | $9.67 |
| 25th percentile | $27,400 | $13.17 |
| Median | $34,340 | $16.51 |
| Mean | $40,790 | $19.61 |
| 75th percentile | $47,570 | $22.87 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $73,770 | $35.47 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 762,600 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 800,500 |
| Change in jobs | 37,900 |
| Percent change | +5.0% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 121,200 |
| Self-employed share | 0.2% |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 6,560 | 0.64 | $27,980 | $17,260 | $55,500 | -19% | 46% |
| Alaska | 2,280 | 1.44 | $30,460 | $24,880 | $61,550 | -11% | 57% |
| Arizona | 14,840 | 0.94 | $45,070 | $30,650 | $86,720 | +31% | 45% |
| Arkansas | 3,020 | 0.48 | $25,090 | $22,880 | $56,830 | -27% | 47% |
| California | 71,470 | 0.81 | $36,220 | $34,320 | $75,130 | +5% | 70% |
| Colorado | 17,000 | 1.22 | $38,170 | $30,800 | $94,880 | +11% | 57% |
| Connecticut | 7,680 | 0.93 | $38,780 | $34,010 | $81,760 | +13% | 48% |
| Delaware | 2,820 | 1.19 | $36,840 | $31,200 | $60,420 | +7% | 50% |
| District of Columbia | 5,760 | 1.69 | $53,920 | $36,400 | $95,560 | +57% | 43% |
| Florida | 55,170 | 1.14 | $35,150 | $27,430 | $66,400 | +2% | 62% |
| Georgia | 14,600 | 0.61 | $22,830 | $15,840 | $53,310 | -34% | 79% |
| Hawaii | 3,540 | 1.16 | $76,490 | $30,670 | $117,540 | +123% | 30% |
| Idaho | 3,430 | 0.82 | $27,240 | $16,850 | $61,060 | -21% | 61% |
| Illinois | 43,010 | 1.45 | $31,200 | $31,200 | $46,520 | -9% | 51% |
| Indiana | 12,880 | 0.83 | $22,770 | $17,050 | $45,000 | -34% | 58% |
| Iowa | 9,560 | 1.26 | $21,720 | $16,730 | $39,520 | -37% | 54% |
| Kansas | 5,430 | 0.78 | $27,940 | $17,150 | $66,010 | -19% | 46% |
| Kentucky | 6,870 | 0.71 | $28,780 | $16,110 | $63,140 | -16% | 42% |
| Louisiana | 10,140 | 1.08 | $20,850 | $15,080 | $41,600 | -39% | 61% |
| Maine | 3,230 | 1.04 | $48,920 | $31,120 | $99,850 | +42% | 30% |
| Maryland | 13,020 | 0.97 | $37,580 | $31,200 | $69,730 | +9% | 55% |
| Massachusetts | 19,850 | 1.12 | $37,440 | $31,890 | $70,870 | +9% | 59% |
| Michigan | 21,100 | 0.98 | $36,780 | $25,960 | $76,090 | +7% | 38% |
| Minnesota | 24,420 | 1.70 | $26,900 | $23,150 | $38,790 | -22% | 58% |
| Mississippi | 2,770 | 0.49 | $28,320 | $15,910 | $74,330 | -18% | 42% |
| Missouri | 14,410 | 1.01 | $30,090 | $28,600 | $54,900 | -12% | 43% |
| Montana | 5,370 | 2.16 | $26,010 | $21,940 | $32,870 | -24% | 54% |
| Nebraska | 7,320 | 1.47 | $30,180 | $28,080 | $60,140 | -12% | 44% |
| Nevada | 16,830 | 2.23 | $27,460 | $24,960 | $47,250 | -20% | 75% |
| New Hampshire | 3,840 | 1.16 | $28,800 | $17,390 | $78,230 | -16% | 65% |
| New Jersey | 16,260 | 0.78 | $44,020 | $32,220 | $80,480 | +28% | 49% |
| New Mexico | 3,790 | 0.89 | $36,980 | $25,720 | $63,570 | +8% | 36% |
| New York | 43,130 | 0.92 | $61,210 | $33,640 | $93,530 | +78% | 32% |
| North Carolina | 20,070 | 0.83 | $36,470 | $16,180 | $74,450 | +6% | 44% |
| North Dakota | 3,960 | 1.90 | $29,040 | $18,850 | $57,050 | -15% | 40% |
| Ohio | 27,420 | 1.02 | $30,880 | $22,990 | $72,190 | -10% | 42% |
| Oklahoma | 5,860 | 0.70 | $24,790 | $16,230 | $48,050 | -28% | 51% |
| Oregon | 11,950 | 1.25 | $38,900 | $31,200 | $68,980 | +13% | 49% |
| Pennsylvania | 37,490 | 1.27 | $28,420 | $17,460 | $62,830 | -17% | 53% |
| Rhode Island | 3,170 | 1.30 | $36,410 | $31,200 | $76,320 | +6% | 47% |
| South Carolina | 10,680 | 0.95 | $19,370 | $15,080 | $59,430 | -44% | 79% |
| South Dakota | 3,930 | 1.77 | $29,400 | $27,400 | $38,180 | -14% | 41% |
| Tennessee | 10,330 | 0.65 | $27,480 | $15,970 | $52,740 | -20% | 56% |
| Texas | 59,000 | 0.86 | $22,690 | $16,200 | $65,300 | -34% | 78% |
| Utah | 3,350 | 0.40 | $32,150 | $17,640 | $75,080 | -6% | 59% |
| Vermont | 2,080 | 1.40 | $45,450 | $29,970 | $91,400 | +32% | 35% |
| Virginia | 13,370 | 0.67 | $47,070 | $27,890 | $90,400 | +37% | 42% |
| Washington | 16,800 | 0.97 | $55,830 | $39,380 | $90,130 | +63% | 39% |
| West Virginia | 3,340 | 0.98 | $29,630 | $19,900 | $64,280 | -14% | 36% |
| Wisconsin | 29,520 | 2.06 | $23,460 | $17,200 | $39,040 | -32% | 58% |
| Wyoming | 2,660 | 1.95 | $22,030 | $17,620 | $55,070 | -36% | 54% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | 800 | $86,280 | $38,180 | $131,230 | 2.22 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 2,130 | $75,340 | $30,010 | $106,310 | 0.98 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 38,510 | $61,220 | $34,410 | $94,640 | 0.83 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 9,640 | $58,180 | $40,340 | $96,230 | 0.95 |
| Bellingham, WA | 600 | $56,110 | $44,060 | $79,690 | 1.34 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 600 | $55,820 | $40,040 | $78,980 | 0.95 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 1,780 | $54,170 | $32,020 | $103,710 | 1.27 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 560 | $53,810 | $38,070 | $89,430 | 1.23 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 1,100 | $50,210 | $38,410 | $98,750 | 0.88 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 530 | $50,180 | $37,480 | $82,820 | 0.83 |
| Yakima, WA | 350 | $49,700 | $38,600 | $76,400 | 0.75 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 780 | $49,070 | $30,200 | $95,530 | 1.34 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | 390 | $48,220 | $39,670 | $75,050 | 1.58 |
| Charlottesville, VA | 650 | $48,210 | $30,200 | $82,320 | 1.17 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 14,560 | $48,030 | $34,480 | $91,510 | 0.95 |
| Binghamton, NY | 640 | $47,950 | $32,240 | $82,750 | 1.36 |
| Kingston, NY | 450 | $47,760 | $33,590 | $81,270 | 1.55 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 1,970 | $47,370 | $32,240 | $83,420 | 0.90 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 10,580 | $46,940 | $30,970 | $91,880 | 0.92 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 2,890 | $46,920 | $32,240 | $80,440 | 1.11 |
| Syracuse, NY | 1,540 | $46,710 | $32,240 | $80,070 | 1.05 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 2,860 | $46,700 | $26,910 | $78,840 | 0.77 |
| Roanoke, VA | 520 | $46,530 | $26,780 | $76,200 | 0.69 |
| Glens Falls, NY | 320 | $46,470 | $32,240 | $79,060 | 1.30 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 1,180 | $46,320 | $33,760 | $82,390 | 0.90 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 1,210 | $46,290 | $30,800 | $84,240 | 1.47 |
| Richmond, VA | 2,110 | $46,070 | $27,670 | $79,320 | 0.66 |
| Rochester, NY | 2,140 | $45,920 | $32,240 | $77,490 | 0.89 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 6,980 | $45,590 | $33,470 | $73,600 | 1.19 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 1,770 | $45,150 | $34,010 | $84,580 | 0.90 |
| Santa Fe, NM | 530 | $44,250 | $27,590 | $65,640 | 1.76 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | 900 | $43,950 | $34,010 | $93,640 | 1.46 |
| Bangor, ME | 340 | $43,880 | $30,470 | $95,730 | 0.96 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 890 | $43,530 | $33,960 | $79,840 | 1.95 |
| Bend, OR | 890 | $42,670 | $31,720 | $66,340 | 1.70 |
| Boulder, CO | 970 | $42,520 | $33,190 | $92,040 | 1.04 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | 460 | $42,340 | $30,580 | $80,810 | 1.32 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2,790 | $42,270 | $38,550 | $80,170 | 0.50 |
| Yuma, AZ | 310 | $42,210 | $30,580 | $80,090 | 0.91 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 870 | $40,230 | $27,200 | $76,730 | 0.83 |
| Medford, OR | 480 | $40,190 | $31,060 | $63,520 | 1.10 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 10,260 | $39,670 | $36,000 | $90,520 | 0.89 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | 960 | $39,580 | $30,430 | $63,680 | 1.25 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 1,890 | $39,300 | $32,220 | $65,000 | 2.31 |
| Niles, MI | 520 | $38,970 | $26,790 | $74,710 | 1.78 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 760 | $38,860 | $32,240 | $75,040 | 1.33 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 580 | $38,800 | $32,220 | $73,780 | 0.49 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 2,730 | $38,430 | $27,380 | $79,360 | 0.94 |
| Salem, OR | 1,090 | $38,410 | $31,130 | $65,050 | 1.19 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 780 | $38,300 | $27,700 | $81,410 | 0.73 |
| New Haven, CT | 1,300 | $38,260 | $34,010 | $81,280 | 0.95 |
| Wilmington, NC | 1,460 | $37,890 | $15,990 | $76,630 | 1.57 |
| Napa, CA | 580 | $37,790 | $34,810 | $73,590 | 1.54 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 14,840 | $37,760 | $32,010 | $73,890 | 1.13 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 1,720 | $37,700 | $30,800 | $82,960 | 1.12 |
| Greeley, CO | 510 | $37,680 | $30,800 | $91,020 | 0.88 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 1,310 | $37,680 | $34,870 | $78,400 | 1.31 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 580 | $37,660 | $27,070 | $75,710 | 0.98 |
| Pueblo, CO | 330 | $37,630 | $30,800 | $77,260 | 1.09 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 8,810 | $37,460 | $27,420 | $78,210 | 1.25 |
The median is $34,340 a year ($16.51 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $20,110 and the highest-paid tenth over $73,770 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
756,390 in May 2025, and BLS projects +5.0% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: No formal educational credential (BLS).
Hawaii, with a median of $76,490 (among states with published figures).