Bartenders pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,000 a year or less, while the top 10% make $90,520 or more. The middle half of bartenders in San Francisco earn between $38,240 and $46,080.
- $36K10th
- $38K25th
- $40KMedian
- $46K75th
- $91K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $50,970 | $4,248 | $24.50 |
| Median | $39,670 | $3,306 | $19.07 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,240 | $3,187 | $18.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,080 | $3,840 | $22.15 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bartenders pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Bartenders in San Francisco earn 14% more than the California average ($44,780) and 25% more than the U.S. average ($40,790). At the median the gap is +16% against the U.S. median of $34,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $50,970 | $39,670 | $36,000 | $90,520 | 10,260 |
| California | $44,780 | $36,220 | $34,320 | $75,130 | 71,470 |
| United States | $40,790 | $34,340 | $20,110 | $73,770 | 756,390 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Bartenders salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $50,970, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $41,884 a year, or $3,490 a month and $1,611 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for bartenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $50,970 buys what about $44,087 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 22.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 1st of 25 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- San Francisco$50,970
- San Jose$50,890
- San Luis Obispo$47,350
- San Diego$46,900
- Napa$46,780
- Santa Rosa$46,650
- Salinas$46,550
- Sacramento$46,320
- Oxnard$45,270
- Vallejo$44,310
Highest-paying cities for bartenders
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,360).
- Kahului, HI$91,360
- Honolulu, HI$72,660
- New York, NY$63,630
- Seattle, WA$62,090
- Portland, ME$60,600
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Bartenders salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in San Francisco?
$24.51 an hour on average, and $19.07 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,000 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,240, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $41,884 a year ($3,490 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $50,970. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do bartenders earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% more than the U.S. average for this job ($40,790).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3011; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.89, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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