Bartender salary in Alaska
Bartenders in Alaska earn a median of $30,460 a year ($14.65 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,280 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,550 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $34,340. Alaska ranks 25th of 51 states for bartenders pay. There are 7.0 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $36,560, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Alaska
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,880 | $11.96 |
| 25th percentile | $28,250 | $13.58 |
| Median | $30,460 | $14.65 |
| 75th percentile | $36,450 | $17.53 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,550 | $29.59 |
| Average (mean) | $36,560 | $17.58 |
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 | $2,538.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,269.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,171.54 |
| Weekly | $585.77 |
| Hourly | $14.65 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in cities in Alaska
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $31,840 | 260 |
| Anchorage, AK | $31,200 | 1,250 |
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 Alaska
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,280 | $16.00 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $26,310 | $12.65 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $38,090 | $18.31 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,720 | $17.17 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,570 | $22.39 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $40,140 | $19.30 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,960 | $16.33 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $48,580 | $23.36 |
| Dishwasher | $33,890 | $16.29 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,040 | $13.00 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,210 | $14.52 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $52,190 | $25.09 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,780 | $18.16 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Alaska
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 Alaska?
The median salary for bartenders in Alaska is $30,460 a year, or $14.65 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,550 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Alaska?
The top 10% of bartenders in Alaska earn at least $61,550 a year. The top 25% earn $36,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Alaska?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,880 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $28,250 or less.
How many bartenders work in Alaska?
About 2,280 bartenders are employed in Alaska, not counting the self-employed.