Best cities for a bar back
The best cities for bar backs are Cincinnati, OH, Detroit, MI, and Nashville, TN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for bar backs vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for bar backs in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a bar back or considering a move, this list of the best cities for bar backs to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for bar backs. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a bar back. While the absolute best city for bar backs is Cincinnati, OH, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for bar backs in 2024.
If you're looking for a bar back job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for bar backs in 2026
1. Cincinnati, OH
Total bar back jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $23,021 Lowest 10 percent warn: $17,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Location quotient: 1.72 2. Detroit, MI
Total bar back jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $23,967 Lowest 10 percent warn: $18,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Location quotient: 4.70 3. Nashville, TN
Total bar back jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $22,784 Lowest 10 percent warn: $17,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Location quotient: 1.42 4. Glendale, AZ
Total bar back jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $25,023 Lowest 10 percent warn: $18,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Location quotient: 9.01 5. Chandler, AZ
Total bar back jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $24,993 Lowest 10 percent warn: $18,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Location quotient: 5.00 6. Mesa, AZ
Total bar back jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $24,987 Lowest 10 percent warn: $18,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Location quotient: 7.90 7. Columbus, OH
Total bar back jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $23,245 Lowest 10 percent warn: $17,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Location quotient: 0.84 8. Newark, NJ
Total bar back jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $28,861 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location quotient: 1.07 9. Toledo, OH
Total bar back jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $23,876 Lowest 10 percent warn: $17,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. El Paso, TX
Total bar back jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $23,297 Lowest 10 percent warn: $17,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Location quotient: 4.35
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Best cities for bar backs
- Cincinnati, OH
- Detroit, MI
- Nashville, TN
- Glendale, AZ
- Chandler, AZ
- Mesa, AZ
- Columbus, OH
- Newark, NJ
- Toledo, OH
- El Paso, TX
- (3 bar back jobs)
- (8 bar back jobs)
- (3 bar back jobs)
- (2 bar back jobs)
- (4 bar back jobs)
- (3 bar back jobs)
- (3 bar back jobs)
- (1 bar back jobs)
- (0 bar back jobs)
- (2 bar back jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a bar back
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cincinnati, OH | $23,021 | $17,000 | 298,800 | 3 |
| 2 | Detroit, MI | $23,967 | $18,000 | 672,795 | 8 |
| 3 | Nashville, TN | $22,784 | $17,000 | 660,388 | 3 |
| 4 | Glendale, AZ | $25,023 | $18,000 | 245,895 | 2 |
| 5 | Chandler, AZ | $24,993 | $18,000 | 247,477 | 4 |
| 6 | Mesa, AZ | $24,987 | $18,000 | 484,587 | 3 |
| 7 | Columbus, OH | $23,245 | $17,000 | 860,090 | 3 |
| 8 | Newark, NJ | $28,861 | $21,000 | 281,764 | 1 |
| 9 | Toledo, OH | $23,876 | $17,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 10 | El Paso, TX | $23,297 | $17,000 | 683,080 | 2 |
| 11 | Memphis, TN | $22,747 | $16,000 | 652,717 | 2 |
| 12 | Sacramento, CA | $29,308 | $21,000 | 495,234 | 3 |
| 13 | Anaheim, CA | $29,152 | $21,000 | 351,043 | 1 |
| 14 | Seattle, WA | $29,855 | $22,000 | 704,352 | 8 |
| 15 | Riverside, CA | $29,122 | $21,000 | 324,722 | 1 |
| 16 | Denver, CO | $27,761 | $20,000 | 693,060 | 9 |
| 17 | Boston, MA | $31,288 | $24,000 | 673,184 | 6 |
| 18 | Charlotte, NC | $23,020 | $17,000 | 842,051 | 8 |
| 19 | Jersey City, NJ | $28,864 | $21,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 20 | Los Angeles, CA | $29,185 | $21,000 | 3,976,322 | 11 |
| 21 | Brookhaven, NY | $34,111 | $25,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 22 | Oyster Bay, NY | $33,950 | $25,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 23 | Islip, NY | $33,938 | $25,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 24 | San Francisco, CA | $29,369 | $21,000 | 870,887 | 7 |
| 25 | Cleveland, OH | $24,094 | $18,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 26 | Buffalo, NY | $34,657 | $26,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 27 | Hempstead, NY | $33,768 | $25,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 28 | New York, NY | $33,720 | $25,000 | 8,537,673 | 9 |
| 29 | Irvine, CA | $29,139 | $21,000 | 266,122 | 3 |
| 30 | Austin, TX | $23,091 | $17,000 | 947,890 | 9 |
| 31 | Saint Paul, MN | $23,627 | $17,000 | 302,398 | 3 |
| 32 | Phoenix, AZ | $25,017 | $18,000 | 1,615,017 | 3 |
| 33 | Dallas, TX | $23,119 | $17,000 | 1,317,929 | 6 |
| 34 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $22,691 | $17,000 | 260,999 | 7 |
| 35 | Oakland, CA | $29,358 | $21,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 36 | Aurora, CO | $27,755 | $20,000 | 361,710 | - |
| 37 | Colorado Springs, CO | $27,716 | $20,000 | 465,101 | - |
| 38 | Scottsdale, AZ | $25,003 | $18,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 39 | Fremont, CA | $29,349 | $21,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 40 | San Jose, CA | $29,348 | $21,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 41 | Gilbert, AZ | $24,987 | $18,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 42 | Durham, NC | $23,091 | $17,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 43 | Washington, DC | $31,437 | $23,000 | 681,170 | 4 |
| 44 | Stockton, CA | $29,310 | $21,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 45 | Greensboro, NC | $23,086 | $17,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 46 | Tucson, AZ | $24,898 | $18,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 47 | Fort Worth, TX | $23,121 | $17,000 | 854,113 | 1 |
| 48 | Winston-Salem, NC | $23,082 | $17,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 49 | Fresno, CA | $29,252 | $21,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 50 | Raleigh, NC | $23,080 | $17,000 | 458,880 | - |
Highest paying cities for bar backs
| Rank | City | Avg. bar back salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $33,720 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $31,288 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $29,855 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $29,369 |
| 5 | Clifton, NJ | $28,967 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $27,761 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $25,158 |
| 8 | Glendale, AZ | $25,023 |
| 9 | Detroit, MI | $23,967 |
| 10 | Saint Paul, MN | $23,627 |
| 11 | El Paso, TX | $23,297 |
| 12 | Columbus, OH | $23,245 |
| 13 | Green Bay, WI | $23,185 |
| 14 | Asheville, NC | $23,027 |
| 15 | Orlando, FL | $22,694 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $22,508 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $22,173 |
| 18 | Philadelphia, PA | $22,121 |
| 19 | Albuquerque, NM | $21,677 |
| 20 | Las Vegas, NV | $21,569 |
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Updated January 8, 2025