Bartenders pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,340 a year or less, while the top 10% make $96,230 or more. The middle half of bartenders in Seattle earn between $49,470 and $70,140.
- $40K10th
- $49K25th
- $58KMedian
- $70K75th
- $96K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $62,090 | $5,174 | $29.85 |
| Median | $58,180 | $4,848 | $27.97 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,470 | $4,122 | $23.78 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $70,140 | $5,845 | $33.72 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bartenders pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Bartenders in Seattle earn 3% more than the Washington average ($60,010) and 52% more than the U.S. average ($40,790). At the median the gap is +69% against the U.S. median of $34,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $62,090 | $58,180 | $40,340 | $96,230 | 9,640 |
| Washington | $60,010 | $55,830 | $39,380 | $90,130 | 16,800 |
| 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 Seattle
On the average salary of $62,090, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $52,069 a year, or $4,339 a month and $2,003 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Seattle a good place for bartenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $62,090 buys what about $55,870 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 12.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in other Washington cities
Seattle ranks 1st of 11 Washington metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Seattle$62,090
- Bellingham$59,340
- Mount Vernon$59,070
- Bremerton$58,850
- Kennewick$58,550
- Spokane$57,470
- Olympia$57,260
- Walla Walla$57,150
- Yakima$55,280
- Wenatchee$54,180
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 Seattle: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in Seattle?
$29.85 an hour on average, and $27.97 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,340 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,470, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in Seattle?
About $52,069 a year ($4,339 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $62,090. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do bartenders earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 52% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- 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 no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.95, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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