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Top 10 Cities for Bartenders in 2026
As you embark on your journey in the bartending profession or consider making a career move, understanding the best locations across the United States for long-term growth and salary potential is crucial. With bartending being a widely recognized vocation, regional disparities can significantly influence your earnings and career trajectory.
At Zippia, our mission is to guide you in making informed decisions about your career. We analyzed various cities to pinpoint those that offer bartenders the most favorable opportunities, including competitive pay relative to the cost of living and a robust job market.
Utilizing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), we compiled a list of the best cities for bartenders, showcasing where you can thrive in your career. Below are the top cities:
- Fairbanks, AK
- Mount Vernon, WA
- Walla Walla, WA
- Rapid City, SD
- Bremerton, WA
- Olympia, WA
- Corvallis, OR
- San Francisco, CA
- Bismarck, ND
- Santa Fe, NM
In summary, Fairbanks stands out as the top city for aspiring bartenders, considering all the factors that contribute to a successful career in this field.
Conversely, if you’re a bartender eyeing less favorable locations, we advise staying away from Dover, NH.
Continue reading to discover how we conducted our research to determine the best cities for bartenders, along with more details on our top ten selections.
How We Determined the Best Cities for Bartenders
At Zippia, we engage with a diverse range of job seekers and have identified two primary factors that are essential to them:
- Job Availability
- Compensation
To guide aspiring bartenders in selecting the best cities, we analyzed data on job availability and bartender salaries. Our criteria for evaluation stemmed from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics:
- Location Quotient: A measure of how prevalent bartending jobs are in a city.
- Average Annual Salary.
- Average Annual Salary for Entry-Level Positions.
To ensure a fair comparison of salary data across cities, we adjusted these figures according to the cost of living in each state.
Our analysis encompassed 403 metropolitan areas nationwide. We identified the primary area of each metro and referred to it simply as the “city.” For instance, the “Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division” was labeled as Boston.
To create a comprehensive ranking, we assigned each city a rank based on the criteria from 1 to 403, with 1 representing the best score. We then averaged these rankings to generate a Job Score, with the lowest average indicating the best city for bartenders in America.
Now, let’s delve into what makes each of these cities exceptional for bartenders.
1. Fairbanks, AK
Total Jobs: 330
Average Annual Salary: $28,650
Average Entry Level Salary: $20,790
Location Quotient: 2.03
2. Mount Vernon, WA
Total Jobs: 270
Average Annual Salary: $30,970
Average Entry Level Salary: $19,830
Location Quotient: 1.37
3. Walla Walla, WA
Total Jobs: 130
Average Annual Salary: $32,470
Average Entry Level Salary: $25,010
Location Quotient: 1.26
4. Rapid City, SD
Total Jobs: 530
Average Annual Salary: $21,710
Average Entry Level Salary: $18,230
Location Quotient: 1.91
5. Bremerton, WA
Total Jobs: 430
Average Annual Salary: $35,330
Average Entry Level Salary: $19,860
Location Quotient: 1.24
6. Olympia, WA
Total Jobs: 590
Average Annual Salary: $27,370
Average Entry Level Salary: $19,950
Location Quotient: 1.36
7. Corvallis, OR
Total Jobs: 220
Average Annual Salary: $28,260
Average Entry Level Salary: $19,520
Location Quotient: 1.45
8. San Francisco, CA
Total Jobs: 6,550
Average Annual Salary: $34,100
Average Entry Level Salary: $20,510
Location Quotient: 1.5
9. Bismarck, ND
Total Jobs: 400
Average Annual Salary: $25,730
Average Entry Level Salary: $17,950
Location Quotient: 1.27
10. Santa Fe, NM
Total Jobs: 320
Average Annual Salary: $31,850
Average Entry Level Salary: $17,540
Location Quotient: 1.28
In Conclusion: Best Cities for Bartenders
If you’re pursuing a career as a bartender, these cities are ideal for you. They offer competitive pay, ample job opportunities, and paths for career advancement.
On the flip side, consider avoiding the following cities if you’re looking to maximize your bartending career:
Detailed List of the Best Cities for Bartenders
| Rank | State | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairbanks, AK | $28,650 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $30,970 |
| 3 | Walla Walla, WA | $32,470 |
| 4 | Rapid City, SD | $21,710 |
| 5 | Bremerton, WA | $35,330 |
| 6 | Olympia, WA | $27,370 |
| 7 | Corvallis, OR | $28,260 |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $34,100 |
| 9 | Bismarck, ND | $25,730 |
| 10 | Santa Fe, NM | $31,850 |
| 11 | Wenatchee, WA | $24,870 |
| 12 | Seattle, WA | $33,370 |
| 13 | Kahului, HI | $45,210 |
| 14 | Myrtle Beach, SC | $23,360 |
| 15 | Tacoma, WA | $28,870 |
| 16 | Bend, OR | $26,650 |
| 17 | Naples, FL | $29,830 |
| 18 | Spokane, WA | $26,680 |
| 19 | Wheeling, WV | $20,920 |
| 20 | Great Falls, MT | $20,740 |
| 21 | Bellingham, WA | $26,640 |
| 22 | Sioux Falls, SD | $20,790 |
| 23 | Burlington, VT | $28,980 |
| 24 | Kennewick, WA | $25,830 |
| 25 | Charleston, SC | $23,790 |
| 26 | Longview, WA | $23,660 |
| 27 | Crestview, FL | $26,370 |
| 28 | Cleveland, OH | $22,250 |
| 29 | Grants Pass, OR | $21,770 |
| 30 | Missoula, MT | $20,240 |
| 31 | Portland, OR | $24,590 |
| 32 | Michigan City, IN | $21,920 |
| 33 | Billings, MT | $20,970 |
| 34 | Austin, TX | $26,420 |
| 35 | Flagstaff, AZ | $26,370 |
| 36 | Deltona, FL | $25,710 |
| 37 | The Villages, FL | $25,530 |
| 38 | Dayton, OH | $22,410 |
| 39 | Weirton, WV | $19,300 |
| 40 | Tampa, FL | $27,810 |
| 41 | Anchorage, AK | $34,610 |
| 42 | San Angelo, TX | $30,040 |
| 43 | Bloomington, IN | $22,060 |
| 44 | Atlantic City, NJ | $28,930 |
| 45 | Morgantown, WV | $19,070 |
| 46 | Salem, OR | $22,390 |
| 47 | Hilton Head Island, SC | $19,930 |
| 48 | Grand Forks, ND | $19,840 |
| 49 | St. Louis, MO | $21,680 |
| 50 | Columbus, OH | $21,480 |
| 51 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $32,180 |
| 52 | Napa, CA | $33,270 |
| 53 | South Bend, IN | $21,190 |
| 54 | Akron, OH | $20,200 |
| 55 | Decatur, IL | $22,920 |
| 56 | North Port, FL | $27,490 |
| 57 | Santa Rosa, CA | $30,620 |
| 58 | Toledo, OH | $19,520 |
| 59 | Gulfport, MS | $20,330 |
| 60 | Omaha, NE | $20,800 |
| 61 | Medford, OR | $23,870 |
| 62 | Las Vegas, NV | $28,070 |
| 63 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $26,430 |
| 64 | Albany, OR | $24,560 |
| 65 | Santa Maria, CA | $30,700 |
| 66 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $29,020 |
| 67 | Ann Arbor, MI | $30,200 |
| 68 | Brunswick, GA | $28,060 |
| 69 | Panama City, FL | $25,610 |
| 70 | Orlando, FL | $35,720 |
| 71 | Detroit, MI | $22,920 |
| 72 | San Antonio, TX | $23,700 |
| 73 | Indianapolis, IN | $24,440 |
| 74 | Palm Bay, FL | $25,680 |
| 75 | San Diego, CA | $30,790 |
| 76 | San Rafael, CA | $28,370 |
| 77 | Providence, RI | $22,180 |
| 78 | Youngstown, OH | $18,760 |
| 79 | Sebastian, FL | $24,490 |
| 80 | Champaign, IL | $22,340 |
| 81 | Flint, MI | $22,920 |
| 82 | Fargo, ND | $19,780 |
| 83 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY | $20,440 |
| 84 | Lewiston, ID | $20,880 |
| 85 | Tucson, AZ | $27,300 |
| 86 | Salinas, CA | $29,030 |
| 87 | Yakima, WA | $24,100 |
| 88 | Chico, CA | $26,300 |
| 89 | Ocean City, NJ | $24,780 |
| 90 | Miami, FL | $32,330 |
| 91 | Grand Rapids, MI | $21,210 |
| 92 | Monroe, MI | $21,480 |
| 93 | Punta Gorda, FL | $24,070 |
| 94 | Muskegon, MI | $21,210 |
| 95 | Elgin, IL | $23,490 |
| 96 | Victoria, TX | $29,050 |
| 97 | Cape Coral, FL | $23,910 |
| 98 | Gettysburg, PA | $22,390 |
| 99 | Fort Wayne, IN | $20,820 |
| 100 | Battle Creek, MI | $23,800 |
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.
