All careers › Bartenders
Bartender: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $20,110lowest 10% earn less
- $27,40025th percentile
- $34,340median
- $47,57075th percentile
- $73,770top 10% earn more
The median pay for bartenders was $34,340 a year in May 2025[1], below the $50,980 median for all occupations[2]. Entry typically needs no formal education credential[3], and jobs are projected to grow a little faster than the average for all occupations[4][5].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +5%[4]
- Openings per year
- 121,200[7]
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential[3]
How much do bartenders make?
The median pay for bartenders was $34,340 a year, or $16.51 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of bartenders earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $40,790 a year, or $19.61 an hour[8]. For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[2], so the bartender median sits below it.
The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% of bartenders earned less than $20,110 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $73,770[6]. Percentile wages are boundaries, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[9].
| Measure | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile[6][10] | $20,110 | $9.67 |
| 25th percentile[6][10] | $27,400 | $13.17 |
| Median[1] | $34,340 | $16.51 |
| 75th percentile[6][10] | $47,570 | $22.87 |
| 90th percentile[6][10] | $73,770 | $35.47 |
These figures cover about 756,390 bartenders in wage and salary jobs[11]. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits such as health insurance[12].
Pay by state and city
Hawaii had the highest median pay for bartenders at $76,490 a year[13]. New York came next at $61,210, then Washington at $55,830, the District of Columbia at $53,920 and Maine at $48,920[13]. South Carolina was last among the states with published data, at $19,370[13].
The states with the most bartender jobs were California (71,470), Texas (59,000), Florida (55,170), New York (43,130) and Illinois (43,010)[14]. Pay in those states differed a lot. The median was $61,210 in New York, $36,220 in California and $22,690 in Texas[13].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Kahului-Wailuku, HI had the highest median at $86,280[15]. Urban Honolulu, HI followed at $75,340, then New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at $61,220[15]. The New York area also had the most jobs, 38,510, followed by Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN with 28,750 and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA with 25,260[16].
Show median pay in 50 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii[13] | $76,490 | 3,540 |
| New York | $61,210 | 43,130 |
| Washington | $55,830 | 16,800 |
| District of Columbia | $53,920 | 5,760 |
| Maine | $48,920 | 3,230 |
| Virginia | $47,070 | 13,370 |
| Vermont | $45,450 | 2,080 |
| Arizona | $45,070 | 14,840 |
| New Jersey | $44,020 | 16,260 |
| Oregon | $38,900 | 11,950 |
| Connecticut | $38,780 | 7,680 |
| Colorado | $38,170 | 17,000 |
| Maryland | $37,580 | 13,020 |
| Massachusetts | $37,440 | 19,850 |
| New Mexico | $36,980 | 3,790 |
| Delaware | $36,840 | 2,820 |
| Michigan | $36,780 | 21,100 |
| North Carolina | $36,470 | 20,070 |
| Rhode Island | $36,410 | 3,170 |
| California | $36,220 | 71,470 |
| Florida | $35,150 | 55,170 |
| Utah | $32,150 | 3,350 |
| Illinois | $31,200 | 43,010 |
| Ohio | $30,880 | 27,420 |
| Alaska | $30,460 | 2,280 |
| Nebraska | $30,180 | 7,320 |
| Missouri | $30,090 | 14,410 |
| West Virginia | $29,630 | 3,340 |
| South Dakota | $29,400 | 3,930 |
| North Dakota | $29,040 | 3,960 |
| New Hampshire | $28,800 | 3,840 |
| Kentucky | $28,780 | 6,870 |
| Pennsylvania | $28,420 | 37,490 |
| Mississippi | $28,320 | 2,770 |
| Alabama | $27,980 | 6,560 |
| Kansas | $27,940 | 5,430 |
| Tennessee | $27,480 | 10,330 |
| Nevada | $27,460 | 16,830 |
| Idaho | $27,240 | 3,430 |
| Minnesota | $26,900 | 24,420 |
| Montana | $26,010 | 5,370 |
| Arkansas | $25,090 | 3,020 |
| Oklahoma | $24,790 | 5,860 |
| Wisconsin | $23,460 | 29,520 |
| Georgia | $22,830 | 14,600 |
| Indiana | $22,770 | 12,880 |
| Texas | $22,690 | 59,000 |
| Wyoming | $22,030 | 2,660 |
| Iowa | $21,720 | 9,560 |
| Louisiana | $20,850 | 10,140 |
| South Carolina | $19,370 | 10,680 |
How to become a bartender
BLS lists no formal educational credential and no related work experience as the typical way in[3]. The usual steps look like this:
- Step one. Check the education rules. Some employers require or prefer a high school diploma[17]. In an O*NET survey of 19 workers, 43% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, 37% said less than a high school diploma, and 16% said some college courses[18].
- Step two. Learn on the job. New bartenders typically train for a few weeks[19]. An experienced bartender guides them through cocktail recipes, bar setup and customer service, including how to handle unruly customers[19]. Some employers use self-study programs with videos and booklets instead[20].
- Step three. Consider a course if you want one. Some people learn the skills at a bartending school or in community college courses[21]. These programs usually cover mixing drinks, serving customers and setting up a bar[21].
- Step four. Learn the alcohol laws. Most states require people who serve alcohol to be at least 18 years old, and bartenders need to know state and local sales laws[22]. Many states and localities require a responsible-server course[23]. Professional certification is optional[24].
- Step five. Build experience if you can. Related experience is typically not needed[25]. Some employers prefer food-service experience, and other bartenders start as bartender helpers and move up as they learn recipes and mixing[25].
The facts do not give the cost or length of schools and server courses. On-the-job training is the only part with a stated length, a few weeks[19].
What bartenders do
O*NET describes the job as making drinks and serving them to guests, directly or through waitstaff[26]. Common titles include bartender, bar captain, banquet bartender and mixologist[27]. Typical tasks include:
- Take drink orders from guests or serving staff[28]
- Pour wine and bottled or draft beer[28]
- Check customer IDs to confirm they are old enough to buy alcohol[28]
- Collect payment for drinks and balance cash receipts[28]
- Restock the bar with drinks and supplies such as ice, glassware and napkins[28]
- Wash glasses and utensils and wipe down the bar, work areas and tables[28]
- Try to head off problems from heavy drinking, for example by talking guests out of another drink or arranging a ride[28]
- Plan and run the operations of a lounge or bar[28]
BLS says bartenders need to listen closely to orders, explain menu items and chat with guests[29]. They also need to spot guests who are drunk or underage and refuse them service[30].
Where bartenders work
Full-service restaurants were the largest employer, with 41% of bartenders in 2025[31]. Bartenders typically work indoors, and some work outdoors at pool bars, beach bars or catered events[32].
Schedules often include late evenings, weekends and holidays[33]. Part-time work is common, and schedules may vary[33]. Busy hours bring pressure to serve guests fast while making sure no alcohol goes to minors or to guests who have had too much[34]. The work involves repeated tasks and sometimes lifting heavy kegs and cases of liquor. It can be stressful when guests are intoxicated[35].
Job outlook
BLS projects bartender employment to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 762,600 to 800,500 jobs, a gain of 37,900[4]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[5]. The OEWS count of 756,390 covers wage and salary jobs[11], while the projection counts include self-employed workers[4]. About 0.2% of bartenders were self-employed in 2025[36].
BLS also projects about 121,200 openings a year, on average, from 2025 to 2035[7]. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[7]. Each year, an average of 4.7% of bartenders leave the labor force and 10.3% move to a different occupation[37].
Is it a good fit?
The facts show a job that is easy to enter. There is typically no formal credential and no related experience requirement, and training lasts a few weeks[3][19]. Median pay is below the all-occupations median, but the range is wide, with the top 10% earning more than $73,770 a year[1][2][6]. Pay also depends heavily on the state, from $76,490 in Hawaii to $19,370 in South Carolina[13]. The work often falls in evenings, weekends and holidays, and it can be stressful at busy times[33][34]. Jobs are projected to grow 5%, a bit above the 3.5% for all occupations[4][5].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a bartender make an hour?
- The median was $16.51 an hour in May 2025 and the average was $19.61[1][8]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $9.67 an hour, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $35.47[10].
- How long does it take to become a bartender?
- Bartenders typically learn the job through on-the-job training that lasts a few weeks[19]. The facts do not give the length of bartending schools or responsible-server courses.
- Do you need a degree to be a bartender?
- No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement[3]. Some employers require or prefer a high school diploma[17].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Bartenders in the US was $34,340 per year and $16.51 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Bartenders: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Bartenders is projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 762,600 to 800,500 jobs (a change of +37,900). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Bartenders: 10th percentile $20,110, 25th percentile $27,400, 75th percentile $47,570, 90th percentile $73,770. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 121,200 openings for Bartenders are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Bartenders was $40,790 per year and $19.61 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Bartenders: 10th percentile $9.67, 25th percentile $13.17, 75th percentile $22.87, 90th percentile $35.47. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 756,390 people were employed as Bartenders in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Bartenders in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Bartenders jobs: California 71,470; Texas 59,000; Florida 55,170; New York 43,130; Illinois 43,010. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Bartenders (areas with at least 100 jobs): Kahului-Wailuku, HI $86,280; Urban Honolulu, HI $75,340; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $61,220; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $58,180; Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $56,640; Bellingham, WA $56,110; Kennewick-Richland, WA $55,820; Portland-South Portland, ME $54,170. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Bartenders jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 38,510 (median $61,220); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 28,750 (median $31,200); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 25,260 (median $35,510); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 18,300 (median $24,170); Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 15,370 (median $27,600); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 14,840 (median $37,760). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET 35-3011.00 survey of workers (19 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 43%, Less than a High School Diploma 37%, Some College Courses 16% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: License and Certification. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: License and Certification. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET description of Bartenders. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 35-3011.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Banquet Bartender, Bar Captain, Bartender, Mixologist. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Bartenders. O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of bartenders in 2025: Full-service restaurants 41%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections: 0.2% of Bartenders were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Bartenders: 4.7% of workers leave the labor force each year and 10.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.