Bartender salary in Alabama
Bartenders in Alabama earn a median of $27,980 a year ($13.45 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,560 workers.
Pay ranges from $17,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,500 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $34,340. Alabama ranks 35th of 51 states for bartenders pay. There are 3.1 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.64). The average (mean) salary is $32,220, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Alabama
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,260 | $8.30 |
| 25th percentile | $21,480 | $10.33 |
| Median | $27,980 | $13.45 |
| 75th percentile | $35,510 | $17.07 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,500 | $26.68 |
| Average (mean) | $32,220 | $15.49 |
Half of bartenders earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,331.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,165.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,076.15 |
| Weekly | $538.08 |
| Hourly | $13.45 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in cities in Alabama
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Decatur, AL | $30,540 | 100 |
| Birmingham, AL | $30,010 | 1,590 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $28,360 | 740 |
| Huntsville, AL | $28,210 | 850 |
| Mobile, AL | $27,980 | 570 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $27,730 | 190 |
| Dothan, AL | $27,420 | 190 |
| Montgomery, AL | $26,830 | 460 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $26,830 | 450 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $26,210 | 400 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | $25,760 | 120 |
| Gadsden, AL | $23,700 | 120 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $20,940 | 380 |
Highest-paying states for bartenders
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $76,490 |
| New York | $61,210 |
| Washington | $55,830 |
| District of Columbia | $53,920 |
| Maine | $48,920 |
| Virginia | $47,070 |
| Vermont | $45,450 |
| Arizona | $45,070 |
| New Jersey | $44,020 |
| Oregon | $38,900 |
Related jobs in Alabama
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $23,700 | $11.40 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $26,840 | $12.91 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,000 | $13.94 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,870 | $13.40 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,110 | $17.84 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,930 | $13.43 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $32,180 | $15.47 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $27,120 | $13.04 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,130 | $12.56 |
| Dishwasher | $28,930 | $13.91 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $22,470 | $10.80 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,400 | $30.00 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $22,330 | $10.74 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $22,990 | $11.05 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Alabama
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Alabama?
The median salary for bartenders in Alabama is $27,980 a year, or $13.45 an hour. Pay ranges from $17,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,500 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Alabama?
The top 10% of bartenders in Alabama earn at least $55,500 a year. The top 25% earn $35,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Alabama?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $17,260 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $21,480 or less.
How many bartenders work in Alabama?
About 6,560 bartenders are employed in Alabama, not counting the self-employed.