Best cities for a bartender server
The best cities for bartender servers are Seattle, WA, Portland, OR, and Oakland, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for bartender servers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for bartender servers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a bartender server or considering a move, this list of the best cities for bartender servers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for bartender servers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a bartender server. While the absolute best city for bartender servers is Seattle, WA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for bartender servers in 2024.
If you're looking for a bartender server job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for bartender servers in 2025
1. Seattle, WA
Bartender server jobs in SeattleTotal bartender server jobs: 89 Average annual salary: $40,962 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location quotient: 3.56 2. Portland, OR
Bartender server jobs in PortlandTotal bartender server jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $39,940 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location quotient: 1.89 3. Oakland, CA
Bartender server jobs in OaklandTotal bartender server jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $37,889 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location quotient: 2.12 4. Scottsdale, AZ
Bartender server jobs in ScottsdaleTotal bartender server jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $34,103 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location quotient: 1.30 5. Gilbert, AZ
Bartender server jobs in GilbertTotal bartender server jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $34,072 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location quotient: 1.40 6. Tucson, AZ
Bartender server jobs in TucsonTotal bartender server jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $33,802 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location quotient: 1.49 7. Phoenix, AZ
Bartender server jobs in PhoenixTotal bartender server jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $34,169 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location quotient: 0.65 8. Sacramento, CA
Bartender server jobs in SacramentoTotal bartender server jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $37,577 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location quotient: 0.81 9. Minneapolis, MN
Bartender server jobs in MinneapolisTotal bartender server jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $35,631 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location quotient: 0.27 10. Fort Wayne, IN
Bartender server jobs in Fort WayneTotal bartender server jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $26,394 Lowest 10 percent warn: $17,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 1.16
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Best cities for bartender servers
- Seattle, WA
- Portland, OR
- Oakland, CA
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Gilbert, AZ
- Tucson, AZ
- Phoenix, AZ
- Sacramento, CA
- Minneapolis, MN
- Fort Wayne, IN
Detailed list of the best cities for a bartender server
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $40,962 | $27,000 | 704,352 | 89 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $39,940 | $26,000 | 639,863 | 19 |
| 3 | Oakland, CA | $37,889 | $25,000 | 420,005 | 6 |
| 4 | Scottsdale, AZ | $34,103 | $22,000 | 246,645 | 4 |
| 5 | Gilbert, AZ | $34,072 | $22,000 | 237,133 | 1 |
| 6 | Tucson, AZ | $33,802 | $22,000 | 530,706 | 5 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $34,169 | $22,000 | 1,615,017 | 12 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $37,577 | $25,000 | 495,234 | 5 |
| 9 | Minneapolis, MN | $35,631 | $23,000 | 413,651 | 3 |
| 10 | Fort Wayne, IN | $26,394 | $17,000 | 264,488 | 2 |
| 11 | Louisville, KY | $26,785 | $17,000 | 597,337 | 5 |
| 12 | New York, NY | $39,619 | $25,000 | 8,537,673 | 16 |
| 13 | San Jose, CA | $37,780 | $25,000 | 1,025,350 | 6 |
| 14 | Durham, NC | $26,758 | $18,000 | 263,016 | 6 |
| 15 | Brookhaven, NY | $40,090 | $25,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 16 | Jersey City, NJ | $41,482 | $26,000 | 264,152 | 1 |
| 17 | Oyster Bay, NY | $39,899 | $25,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 18 | Boston, MA | $35,954 | $23,000 | 673,184 | 6 |
| 19 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $49,429 | $42,000 | 351,792 | - |
| 20 | Islip, NY | $39,885 | $25,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 21 | Newark, NJ | $41,479 | $26,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 22 | Hempstead, NY | $39,677 | $25,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 23 | Buffalo, NY | $40,822 | $26,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 24 | Winston-Salem, NC | $26,668 | $17,000 | 242,203 | 1 |
| 25 | San Antonio, TX | $24,520 | $16,000 | 1,492,510 | 16 |
| 26 | San Diego, CA | $36,166 | $24,000 | 1,406,630 | 7 |
| 27 | Saint Louis, MO | $25,177 | $16,000 | 311,404 | 11 |
| 28 | Pittsburgh, PA | $25,974 | $17,000 | 303,625 | 6 |
| 29 | El Paso, TX | $25,534 | $17,000 | 683,080 | 2 |
| 30 | Austin, TX | $24,489 | $16,000 | 947,890 | 32 |
| 31 | Saint Paul, MN | $35,617 | $23,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 32 | San Francisco, CA | $37,957 | $25,000 | 870,887 | 4 |
| 33 | Glendale, AZ | $34,197 | $22,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 34 | Virginia Beach, VA | $29,779 | $20,000 | 452,602 | 2 |
| 35 | Wichita, KS | $23,978 | $15,000 | 389,902 | 4 |
| 36 | Norfolk, VA | $29,781 | $20,000 | 245,115 | 2 |
| 37 | Chandler, AZ | $34,097 | $22,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 38 | Charlotte, NC | $26,524 | $17,000 | 842,051 | 11 |
| 39 | Raleigh, NC | $26,727 | $18,000 | 458,880 | 5 |
| 40 | Mesa, AZ | $34,065 | $22,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 41 | Washington, DC | $35,283 | $23,000 | 681,170 | 10 |
| 42 | Milwaukee, WI | $25,390 | $16,000 | 595,047 | 3 |
| 43 | Fremont, CA | $37,810 | $25,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 44 | Los Angeles, CA | $36,748 | $24,000 | 3,976,322 | 4 |
| 45 | Detroit, MI | $31,454 | $20,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 46 | Stockton, CA | $37,586 | $25,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 47 | Philadelphia, PA | $26,675 | $17,000 | 1,567,872 | 4 |
| 48 | Fresno, CA | $37,172 | $24,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 49 | Bakersfield, CA | $36,918 | $24,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 50 | Irvine, CA | $36,534 | $24,000 | 266,122 | 1 |
Highest paying cities for bartender servers
| Rank | City | Avg. bartender server salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edmonds, WA | $40,981 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $39,940 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $39,619 |
| 4 | Palo Alto, CA | $37,876 |
| 5 | Waltham, MA | $35,985 |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN | $35,631 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $34,169 |
| 8 | Grand Rapids, MI | $31,693 |
| 9 | Manchester, NH | $31,451 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $27,328 |
| 11 | Raleigh, NC | $26,727 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $26,675 |
| 13 | Sioux Falls, SD | $26,076 |
| 14 | Las Cruces, NM | $26,021 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $24,563 |
| 16 | San Antonio, TX | $24,520 |
| 17 | Highland Park, IL | $23,018 |
| 18 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $22,923 |
| 19 | Sandusky, OH | $22,898 |
| 20 | Myrtle Beach, SC | $22,243 |
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Updated January 8, 2025