How much does a barback make?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics groups this role under Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers (SOC 35-9011). In its May 2025 wage survey, the national median was $16.34 an hour, or about $33,980 a year for full-time work, across roughly 542,750 people employed nationally. The middle of the market sits between $10.24 at the 10th percentile and $22.39 at the 90th.
Barback pay in Boston
In the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area, the median for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers was $16.72 an hour ($34,780a year), reflecting Massachusetts' higher minimum wage and cost of living.
What moves the number
Barback pay is usually an hourly wage plus a share of the bar's tips, so the volume of the bar matters a lot. Busy cocktail bars and late-night venues tend to pay more than quiet neighborhood spots. Experience, reliability, and a clear path toward bartending can also influence what an employer offers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. BLS figures for tipped roles may not capture all tip income. The BLS category is the closest official match for this role, not an exact one.
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