Bartenders pay range in Lafayette
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $38,620 or more. The middle half of bartenders in Lafayette earn between $15,920 and $29,280.
- $15K10th
- $16K25th
- $19KMedian
- $29K75th
- $39K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $23,750 | $1,979 | $11.42 |
| Median | $19,070 | $1,589 | $9.17 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $15,920 | $1,327 | $7.65 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $29,280 | $2,440 | $14.08 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bartenders pay in Lafayette vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Bartenders in Lafayette earn 6% less than the Louisiana average ($25,250) and 42% less than the U.S. average ($40,790). At the median the gap is -44% against the U.S. median of $34,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | $23,750 | $19,070 | $15,080 | $38,620 | 880 |
| Louisiana | $25,250 | $20,850 | $15,080 | $41,600 | 10,140 |
| 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 Lafayette
On the average salary of $23,750, a single filer in Lafayette takes home about $20,842 a year, or $1,737 a month and $802 every two weeks. Taxes take 12% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Lafayette a good place for bartenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lafayette area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.2), so the average $23,750 buys what about $27,233 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Lafayette ($41,780). A typical home costs $202,312, or 8.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in other Louisiana cities
Lafayette ranks 7th of 10 Louisiana metro areas for this job; New Orleans pays the most ($27,000).
- New Orleans$27,000
- Hammond$25,600
- Monroe$25,080
- Slidell$24,790
- Baton Rouge$24,630
- Houma$24,320
- Lafayette$23,750
- Shreveport$23,570
- Alexandria$23,280
- Lake Charles$22,980
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 Lafayette: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in Lafayette?
$11.42 an hour on average, and $9.17 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Lafayette?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $15,920, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in Lafayette?
About $20,842 a year ($1,737 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $23,750.
Do bartenders earn more in Lafayette than elsewhere?
The average here is 42% 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 Lafayette, LA (29180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.6%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.01, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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