Bartenders pay range in Helena
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,980 a year or less, while the top 10% make $29,840 or more. The middle half of bartenders in Helena earn between $22,490 and $28,770.
- $22K10th
- $22K25th
- $26KMedian
- $29K75th
- $30K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $27,080 | $2,257 | $13.02 |
| Median | $26,210 | $2,184 | $12.60 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $22,490 | $1,874 | $10.81 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $28,770 | $2,398 | $13.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bartenders pay in Helena vs. Montana and the U.S.
Bartenders in Helena earn about the same as the Montana average ($27,210) and 34% less than the U.S. average ($40,790). At the median the gap is -24% against the U.S. median of $34,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena | $27,080 | $26,210 | $21,980 | $29,840 | 390 |
| Montana | $27,210 | $26,010 | $21,940 | $32,870 | 5,370 |
| 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 Helena
On the average salary of $27,080, a single filer in Helena takes home about $23,394 a year, or $1,950 a month and $900 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Helena a good place for bartenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Helena area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $27,080 buys what about $28,304 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Helena ($55,040). A typical home costs $477,996, or 17.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in other Montana cities
Helena ranks 2nd of 5 Montana metro areas for this job; Bozeman pays the most ($28,580).
- Bozeman$28,580
- Helena$27,080
- Missoula$27,040
- Billings$26,770
- Great Falls$26,230
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 Helena: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in Helena?
$13.02 an hour on average, and $12.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Helena?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,980 a year and the 25th percentile is $22,490, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in Helena?
About $23,394 a year ($1,950 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $27,080.
Do bartenders earn more in Helena than elsewhere?
The average here is 34% 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 Helena, MT (25740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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 1.81, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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