How much does a bartender make?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics groups this role under Bartenders (SOC 35-3011). In its May 2025 wage survey, the national median was $16.51 an hour, or about $34,340 a year for full-time work, across roughly 756,390 people employed nationally. The middle of the market sits between $9.67 at the 10th percentile and $35.47 at the 90th.
Bartender pay in Boston
In the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area, the median for bartenders was $18.15 an hour ($37,760a year), reflecting Massachusetts' higher minimum wage and cost of living.
What moves the number
Bartender pay is shaped by tips, the volume of the bar, and the restaurant's price point. Craft cocktail programs, high-volume venues, and shifts on peak nights tend to pay more through tips. Experience, knowledge of spirits, and the local tip and minimum wage rules also play a role.
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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