Bartenders pay range in Asheville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,790 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,300 or more. The middle half of bartenders in Asheville earn between $20,560 and $51,680.
- $16K10th
- $21K25th
- $35KMedian
- $52K75th
- $76K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,220 | $3,352 | $19.34 |
| Median | $35,380 | $2,948 | $17.01 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $20,560 | $1,713 | $9.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $51,680 | $4,307 | $24.85 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bartenders pay in Asheville vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Bartenders in Asheville earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($41,200) and about the same as the U.S. average ($40,790). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $34,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $40,220 | $35,380 | $15,790 | $76,300 | 1,240 |
| North Carolina | $41,200 | $36,470 | $16,180 | $74,450 | 20,070 |
| 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 Asheville
On the average salary of $40,220, a single filer in Asheville takes home about $33,401 a year, or $2,783 a month and $1,285 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Asheville a good place for bartenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Asheville area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.5), so the average $40,220 buys what about $41,676 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Asheville ($46,870). A typical home costs $428,742, or 10.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in other North Carolina cities
Asheville ranks 7th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Wilmington pays the most ($43,400).
- Wilmington$43,400
- Charlotte$43,270
- Pinehurst$42,630
- Durham$42,080
- Raleigh$41,500
- Winston-Salem$40,710
- Asheville$40,220
- Rocky Mount$39,290
- Burlington$39,140
- Greensboro$38,740
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 Asheville: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in Asheville?
$19.34 an hour on average, and $17.01 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Asheville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,790 a year and the 25th percentile is $20,560, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in Asheville?
About $33,401 a year ($2,783 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,220.
Do bartenders earn more in Asheville than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Asheville, NC (11700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.3%.
- 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 1.41, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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