Bartenders Salary in the US
A bartenders earns a national median of $34,340 a year (mean $40,790) — BLS OEWS May 2025, ranked #814 of 825.
How much does a bartenders earn in the US?
A bartenders in the United States earns a median of $34,340 a year (mean $40,790), per BLS OEWS May 2025. That is 33% below the US all-occupations median of $50,980. About 756,390 people work in this occupation (SOC 35-3011), ranked #814 of 825 by national median pay. Updated annually from BLS OEWS.
Median
$34,340
per year
Mean
$40,790
per year
Employment
756,390
US workers
National rank
#814
of 825 by median
What a bartenders earns in the US
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025 national estimates, a bartenders (SOC 35-3011) earns a median annual wage of $34,340 and a mean (average) of $40,790. The median is the midpoint — half of bartenders earn more and half earn less — and is 33% below the US all-occupations median of $50,980. The mean is higher than the median when a minority of very high earners pull the average up.
Note: BLS top-codes any annual wage at or above $239,200/year, so occupations at that ceiling share the same figure.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the average salary for a bartenders in the US?
- The BLS OEWS May 2025 national annual median wage for bartenders is $34,340, and the mean (average) is $40,790. The median is the midpoint — half of bartenders earn more and half earn less.
- How does bartenders pay compare to the US average?
- At $34,340, a bartenders earns 33% below the US all-occupations median of $50,980 (BLS OEWS May 2025). The all-occupations US median is $50,980.
- How many bartenders are employed in the US?
- BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates about 756,390 bartenders employed nationally (SOC 35-3011), across all industries.
- Where does this bartenders salary data come from?
- From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 national release — cross-industry, all-ownership estimates, SOC code 35-3011. As US federal government work it is public domain. GeraJobs publishes the figures verbatim; suppressed cells are shown as "—", never estimated.
Compare nearby occupations
- Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$35,070
- Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials$35,060
- Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners$34,980
- Childcare Workers$34,980
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$34,890
- Dishwashers$34,810
- Gambling Dealers$34,320
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$33,980
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$33,580
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$32,910
- Cashiers$32,880
- Entertainment Attendants and Related Workers, All Other$32,640
Find bartenders jobs with salary ranges
GeraJobs lists live US vacancies with employer-stated salary ranges — see which bartenders roles pay above the BLS benchmark.
Data source
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) · May 2025 national estimates · SOC 35-3011 · Public domain (U.S. federal government work)
Published verbatim by GeraJobs. Last updated: 2026-06-27. ← All US salaries