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Best states for a bartender
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to bartender jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for bartenders. We found that New Jersey is the best state in the nation for bartenders, and people in Mililani Town earn the most in the field.
We figured that the best places for bartender jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that New Jersey is the best state for bartender jobs, whereas Nebraska is the worst.
10 best states for bartenders in 2025
1. New Jersey
Total bartender jobs: 280 Average annual salary: $33,311 Lowest 10 percent earn: $19,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location Quotient: 1
2. Arizona
Total bartender jobs: 312 Average annual salary: $28,184 Lowest 10 percent earn: $17,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location Quotient: 1.51
3. Hawaii
Total bartender jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $36,832 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
4. California
Total bartender jobs: 919 Average annual salary: $32,228 Lowest 10 percent earn: $19,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
5. New York
Total bartender jobs: 343 Average annual salary: $31,884 Lowest 10 percent earn: $18,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location Quotient: 0.76
6. Rhode Island
Total bartender jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $31,082 Lowest 10 percent earn: $17,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 0.68
7. Washington
Total bartender jobs: 142 Average annual salary: $32,671 Lowest 10 percent earn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location Quotient: 0.55
8. Massachusetts
Total bartender jobs: 194 Average annual salary: $31,683 Lowest 10 percent earn: $17,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location Quotient: 0.6
9. Wyoming
Total bartender jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $26,902 Lowest 10 percent earn: $17,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location Quotient: 0.81
10. North Dakota
Total bartender jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $30,334 Lowest 10 percent earn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 0.46
Bartender jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a bartender
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a bartender
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $33,311 | $19,000 | 9,005,644 | 280 |
| 2 | Arizona | $28,184 | $17,000 | 7,016,270 | 312 |
| 3 | Hawaii | $36,832 | $30,000 | 1,427,538 | 27 |
| 4 | California | $32,228 | $19,000 | 39,536,653 | 919 |
| 5 | New York | $31,884 | $18,000 | 19,849,399 | 343 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $31,082 | $17,000 | 1,059,639 | 29 |
| 7 | Washington | $32,671 | $21,000 | 7,405,743 | 142 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $31,683 | $17,000 | 6,859,819 | 194 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $26,902 | $17,000 | 579,315 | 17 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $30,334 | $21,000 | 755,393 | 15 |
| 11 | Virginia | $26,474 | $15,000 | 8,470,020 | 317 |
| 12 | Colorado | $25,692 | $16,000 | 5,607,154 | 253 |
| 13 | Oregon | $29,442 | $19,000 | 4,142,776 | 80 |
| 14 | Maryland | $26,361 | $15,000 | 6,052,177 | 239 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $24,192 | $14,000 | 10,273,419 | 340 |
| 16 | Nevada | $23,103 | $14,000 | 2,998,039 | 155 |
| 17 | Kentucky | $23,867 | $14,000 | 4,454,189 | 131 |
| 18 | Michigan | $24,296 | $15,000 | 9,962,311 | 246 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $27,101 | $18,000 | 5,576,606 | 154 |
| 20 | Vermont | $28,261 | $16,000 | 623,657 | 9 |
| 21 | Louisiana | $23,272 | $13,000 | 4,684,333 | 127 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $30,203 | $17,000 | 693,972 | 27 |
| 23 | Maine | $26,520 | $15,000 | 1,335,907 | 16 |
| 24 | Idaho | $25,450 | $16,000 | 1,716,943 | 39 |
| 25 | Florida | $22,859 | $12,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,094 |
| 26 | Ohio | $21,254 | $13,000 | 11,658,609 | 428 |
| 27 | Indiana | $22,389 | $14,000 | 6,666,818 | 198 |
| 28 | Iowa | $22,987 | $15,000 | 3,145,711 | 103 |
| 29 | Georgia | $22,321 | $13,000 | 10,429,379 | 409 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $24,628 | $13,000 | 1,342,795 | 35 |
| 31 | Texas | $21,697 | $12,000 | 28,304,596 | 941 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $21,736 | $13,000 | 2,088,070 | 67 |
| 33 | Missouri | $22,052 | $14,000 | 6,113,532 | 181 |
| 34 | Illinois | $21,923 | $14,000 | 12,802,023 | 417 |
| 35 | Connecticut | $24,404 | $13,000 | 3,588,184 | 67 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $21,970 | $12,000 | 12,805,537 | 364 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $21,549 | $13,000 | 3,004,279 | 71 |
| 38 | Delaware | $22,326 | $13,000 | 961,939 | 35 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $20,328 | $12,000 | 5,024,369 | 180 |
| 40 | Kansas | $20,859 | $13,000 | 2,913,123 | 91 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $20,372 | $13,000 | 5,795,483 | 168 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $18,241 | $11,000 | 6,715,984 | 277 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $20,540 | $12,000 | 1,815,857 | 40 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $20,871 | $14,000 | 869,666 | 18 |
| 45 | Montana | $20,826 | $14,000 | 1,050,493 | 29 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $18,313 | $11,000 | 3,930,864 | 115 |
| 47 | Alabama | $19,872 | $11,000 | 4,874,747 | 129 |
| 48 | Alaska | $18,305 | $14,000 | 739,795 | 12 |
| 49 | Utah | $18,632 | $11,000 | 3,101,833 | 83 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $17,685 | $10,000 | 2,984,100 | 53 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $17,582 | $11,000 | 1,920,076 | 54 |
Highest paying states for bartenders
| Rank | State | Avg. Bartender Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $33,311 |
| 2 | Arizona | $28,184 |
| 3 | Hawaii | $36,832 |
| 4 | California | $32,228 |
| 5 | New York | $31,884 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $31,082 |
| 7 | Washington | $32,671 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $31,683 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $26,902 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $30,334 |
| 11 | Virginia | $26,474 |
| 12 | Colorado | $25,692 |
| 13 | Oregon | $29,442 |
| 14 | Maryland | $26,361 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $24,192 |
| 16 | Nevada | $23,103 |
| 17 | Kentucky | $23,867 |
| 18 | Michigan | $24,296 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $27,101 |
| 20 | Vermont | $28,261 |
| 21 | Louisiana | $23,272 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $30,203 |
| 23 | Maine | $26,520 |
| 24 | Idaho | $25,450 |
| 25 | Florida | $22,859 |
| 26 | Ohio | $21,254 |
| 27 | Indiana | $22,389 |
| 28 | Iowa | $22,987 |
| 29 | Georgia | $22,321 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $24,628 |
| 31 | Texas | $21,697 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $21,736 |
| 33 | Missouri | $22,052 |
| 34 | Illinois | $21,923 |
| 35 | Connecticut | $24,404 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $21,970 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $21,549 |
| 38 | Delaware | $22,326 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $20,328 |
| 40 | Kansas | $20,859 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $20,372 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $18,241 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $20,540 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $20,871 |
| 45 | Montana | $20,826 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $18,313 |
| 47 | Alabama | $19,872 |
| 48 | Alaska | $18,305 |
| 49 | Utah | $18,632 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $17,685 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $17,582 |
Bartender best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025