Bartenders pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,480 a year or less, while the top 10% make $91,510 or more. The middle half of bartenders in Washington earn between $37,070 and $74,510.
- $34K10th
- $37K25th
- $48KMedian
- $75K75th
- $92K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $56,200 | $4,683 | $27.02 |
| Median | $48,030 | $4,002 | $23.09 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,070 | $3,089 | $17.82 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $74,510 | $6,209 | $35.82 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bartenders pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Bartenders in Washington earn 5% less than the Washington, D.C. average ($59,210) and 38% more than the U.S. average ($40,790). At the median the gap is +40% against the U.S. median of $34,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $56,200 | $48,030 | $34,480 | $91,510 | 14,560 |
| Washington, D.C. | $59,210 | $53,920 | $36,400 | $95,560 | 5,760 |
| 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 Washington
On the average salary of $56,200, a single filer in Washington takes home about $45,130 a year, or $3,761 a month and $1,736 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $45,631 | $3,803 |
| Working in DC | $45,130 | $3,761 |
| Working in VA | $44,919 | $3,743 |
| Working in MD | $44,879 | $3,740 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for bartenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $56,200 buys what about $51,615 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 10.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$39,850
- Baltimore, MD$45,020
- Winchester, VA$46,730
- Lexington Park, MD$44,240
- Gettysburg, PA$32,340
- Chambersburg, PA$33,680
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 Washington: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in Washington?
$27.02 an hour on average, and $23.09 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,480 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,070, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in Washington?
About $45,130 a year ($3,761 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $56,200.
Do bartenders earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 38% more 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- 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 0.95, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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