Bartenders pay range in Raleigh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,290 a year or less, while the top 10% make $73,880 or more. The middle half of bartenders in Raleigh earn between $22,310 and $59,460.
- $16K10th
- $22K25th
- $36KMedian
- $59K75th
- $74K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,500 | $3,458 | $19.95 |
| Median | $36,120 | $3,010 | $17.37 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $22,310 | $1,859 | $10.73 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,460 | $4,955 | $28.59 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bartenders pay in Raleigh vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Bartenders in Raleigh 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 +5% against the U.S. median of $34,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | $41,500 | $36,120 | $16,290 | $73,880 | 3,070 |
| 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 Raleigh
On the average salary of $41,500, a single filer in Raleigh takes home about $34,378 a year, or $2,865 a month and $1,322 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 Raleigh a good place for bartenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Raleigh area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.2), so the average $41,500 buys what about $42,279 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Raleigh ($51,990). A typical home costs $438,364, or 10.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in other North Carolina cities
Raleigh ranks 5th 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 Raleigh: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in Raleigh?
$19.95 an hour on average, and $17.37 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,290 a year and the 25th percentile is $22,310, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in Raleigh?
About $34,378 a year ($2,865 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,500.
Do bartenders earn more in Raleigh 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC (39580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.5%.
- 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 0.85, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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