Research Summary. The Zippia data science team has conducted extensive research to present the latest findings on bartender salaries across the United States for 2026:
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Hawaii offers the highest average bartender salary at $36,832.
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Nebraska ranks the lowest with an average bartender salary of $17,582.
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The national average salary for bartenders is $26,362.
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The national hourly wage for bartenders stands at $12.67.
For more details, refer to our specific methodology.
Background
According to various surveys, salary remains a top priority for job seekers across demographics. Many individuals ask, “How much do bartenders earn in my area?” While multiple factors influence individual earnings, we provide comprehensive data on average bartender salaries by state, segmented by experience level. Although your local salary may vary, these averages offer a helpful benchmark.
In 2026, Hawaii remains the state with the highest average salary for bartenders.
Here’s an overview of the top ten states for bartender salaries:
Now, let’s explore how these salaries rank across all states.
Highest-Paid Bartenders By State
| Rank | State | Average Bartender Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $36,832 | $30,000 | $43,000 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $33,311 | $19,000 | $58,000 |
| 3 | Washington | $32,671 | $21,000 | $48,000 |
| 4 | California | $32,228 | $19,000 | $52,000 |
| 5 | New York | $31,884 | $18,000 | $56,000 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $31,683 | $17,000 | $56,000 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $31,082 | $17,000 | $55,000 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $30,334 | $21,000 | $43,000 |
| 9 | Oregon | $29,442 | $19,000 | $44,000 |
| 10 | Vermont | $28,261 | $16,000 | $48,000 |
| 11 | Arizona | $28,184 | $17,000 | $46,000 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $27,101 | $18,000 | $39,000 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $26,902 | $17,000 | $40,000 |
| 14 | Maine | $26,520 | $15,000 | $45,000 |
| 15 | Virginia | $26,474 | $15,000 | $44,000 |
| 16 | Maryland | $26,361 | $15,000 | $44,000 |
| 17 | Colorado | $25,692 | $16,000 | $39,000 |
| 18 | Idaho | $25,450 | $16,000 | $38,000 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $24,628 | $13,000 | $43,000 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $24,404 | $13,000 | $43,000 |
| 21 | Michigan | $24,296 | $15,000 | $38,000 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $24,192 | $14,000 | $40,000 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $23,867 | $14,000 | $38,000 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $23,272 | $13,000 | $39,000 |
| 25 | Nevada | $23,103 | $14,000 | $37,000 |
| 26 | Iowa | $22,987 | $15,000 | $34,000 |
| 27 | Florida | $22,859 | $12,000 | $40,000 |
| 28 | Indiana | $22,389 | $14,000 | $35,000 |
| 29 | Delaware | $22,326 | $13,000 | $38,000 |
| 30 | Georgia | $22,321 | $13,000 | $37,000 |
| 31 | Missouri | $22,052 | $14,000 | $34,000 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $21,970 | $12,000 | $37,000 |
| 33 | Illinois | $21,923 | $14,000 | $33,000 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $21,736 | $13,000 | $35,000 |
| 35 | Texas | $21,697 | $12,000 | $36,000 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $21,549 | $13,000 | $35,000 |
| 37 | Ohio | $21,254 | $13,000 | $34,000 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $20,871 | $14,000 | $30,000 |
| 39 | Kansas | $20,859 | $13,000 | $32,000 |
| 40 | Montana | $20,826 | $14,000 | $30,000 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $20,540 | $12,000 | $33,000 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $20,372 | $13,000 | $31,000 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $20,328 | $12,000 | $34,000 |
| 44 | Alabama | $19,872 | $11,000 | $33,000 |
| 45 | Utah | $18,632 | $11,000 | $28,000 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $18,313 | $11,000 | $29,000 |
| 47 | Alaska | $18,305 | $14,000 | $22,000 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $18,241 | $11,000 | $29,000 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $17,685 | $10,000 | $29,000 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $17,582 | $11,000 | $26,000 |
Methodology: Bartender Salary By State
To analyze bartender compensation by state, Zippia has compiled data from numerous sources including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This data is enriched with actual salary listings from job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average to determine the average pay for bartenders across each state.
The average annual salary data used in this analysis ranks each state according to the highest average salary for bartenders.
Bartender Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for bartenders?
The highest-paid state for bartenders is Hawaii, with an average salary of $36,832 per year.
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What city pays bartenders the most?
Seattle, WA offers the highest pay for bartenders, averaging $32,743 annually.
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What is the worst state for bartenders?
Nebraska is the lowest-paying state for bartenders, with an average salary of $17,582 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
