Bartender Salary in Texas: $34,000 Average

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Average base salary, Texas

$34,000 / year

≈ $2,850 per month · $16.35 per hour

LocationOr metro area

BLS May 2025 state data for Texas · median $23,500

25th percentile
$18,500Average
$34,00075th percentile
$42,000

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.

Bartender salary by state

Alabama$33,500

Alaska$38,000

Arizona$56,000

Arkansas$34,000

California$46,500

Colorado$53,000

Connecticut$53,000

Delaware$44,500

District of Columbia$61,500

Florida$44,000

Georgia$31,500

Hawaii$79,500

Idaho$34,000

Illinois$37,000

Indiana$29,000

Iowa$26,500

Kansas$37,000

Kentucky$36,000

Louisiana$26,000

Maine$60,500

Maryland$47,000

Massachusetts$46,500

Michigan$46,000

Minnesota$32,000

Mississippi$38,000

Missouri$39,500

Montana$28,000

Nebraska$39,500

Nevada$37,500

New Hampshire$42,000

New Jersey$53,000

New Mexico$43,000

New York$64,000

North Carolina$42,500

North Dakota$34,500

Ohio$41,000

Oklahoma$30,500

Oregon$47,500

Pennsylvania$36,500

Rhode Island$47,500

South Carolina$29,500

South Dakota$33,000

Tennessee$32,500

Texas$34,000

Utah$42,000

Vermont$53,500

Virginia$56,000

Washington$62,000

West Virginia$39,000

Wisconsin$28,000

Wyoming$30,000

About this role

Bartender is a professional role in the Food Preparation and Serving job family. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.

What Bartenders do

Typical education: High School Diploma

Clean glasses, utensils, and bar equipment.
Collect money for drinks served.
Balance cash receipts.
Check identification of customers to verify age requirements for purchase of alcohol.
Clean bars, work areas, and tables.

Top skills: Active Listening Service Orientation Social Perceptiveness Speaking Persuasion Critical Thinking

Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).

Bartender salary by industry

Accommodation and Food Services

600,580 workers

$43,500

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation

54,490 workers

$39,500

Other Services (except Public Administration)

41,560 workers

$31,000

Sectors 31, 32, and 33 – Manufacturing

38,000 workers

$44,000

Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)

6,870 workers

$42,000

Sectors 44 and 45 – Retail Trade

6,080 workers

$36,000

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

4,010 workers

$39,000

Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services

3,790 workers

$43,000

National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.

How this role compares

Bartender pays 2% above the average across 17 roles in the Food Preparation and Serving job family (family average $41,000).

Similar-paying roles in Food Preparation and Serving

Waiters and Waitresses$41,500

Cooks, All Other$40,500

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$40,000

Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$38,000

Cooks, Short Order$37,500

First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$48,000

Food Preparation Worker$36,500

Dishwasher$35,500

Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$34,000

Cooks, Fast Food$33,500

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Bartender make?

The average base salary for a Bartender in the United States is $42,000 per year, or about $20.19 per hour.

What is the typical salary range?

Pay typically falls between $28,500 and $49,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

How does this compare with other Food Preparation and Serving roles?

The Food Preparation and Serving job family averages $41,000 across 17 roles tracked by WePayFairly.

Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.

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