Bartenders pay range in Decatur
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,940 or more. The middle half of bartenders in Decatur earn between $31,200 and $31,470.
- $31K10th
- $31K25th
- $31KMedian
- $31K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,020 | $2,918 | $16.84 |
| Median | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $31,470 | $2,622 | $15.13 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bartenders pay in Decatur vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Bartenders in Decatur earn about the same as the Illinois average ($35,550) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($40,790). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $34,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur | $35,020 | $31,200 | $31,200 | $46,940 | 320 |
| Illinois | $35,550 | $31,200 | $31,200 | $46,520 | 43,010 |
| 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 Decatur
On the average salary of $35,020, a single filer in Decatur takes home about $28,726 a year, or $2,394 a month and $1,105 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).
Is Decatur a good place for bartenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Decatur area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.4), so the average $35,020 buys what about $39,606 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Decatur ($51,290). A typical home costs $126,931, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in other Illinois cities
Decatur ranks 7th of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job; Champaign pays the most ($36,260).
- Champaign$36,260
- Kankakee$35,970
- Bloomington$35,960
- Chicago$35,740
- Springfield$35,620
- Peoria$35,140
- Decatur$35,020
- Rockford$34,450
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 Decatur: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in Decatur?
$16.84 an hour on average, and $15.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Decatur?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in Decatur?
About $28,726 a year ($2,394 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,020.
Do bartenders earn more in Decatur than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less 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 Decatur, IL (19500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.44, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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