Bartender salary in Ames, IA
Bartenders in the Ames, IA metro area earn a median of $21,580 a year ($10.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 450 workers.
Pay ranges from $17,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,780 for the top 10%. That is 37% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 1% lower than the Iowa statewide median of $21,720. There are 8.0 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $24,890, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Ames, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,260 | $8.30 |
| 25th percentile | $18,420 | $8.86 |
| Median | $21,580 | $10.38 |
| 75th percentile | $26,850 | $12.91 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,780 | $18.65 |
| Average (mean) | $24,890 | $11.96 |
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 | $1,798.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $899.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $830 |
| Weekly | $415 |
| Hourly | $10.38 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $34,630 | 3,790 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 1,470 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $23,750 | 430 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $22,340 | 2,200 |
| Iowa City, IA | $21,900 | 790 |
| Dubuque, IA | $21,720 | 460 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $21,600 | 790 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $21,540 | 540 |
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 |
See Bartender pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Ames, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,220 | $14.05 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $22,710 | $10.92 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,410 | $17.51 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,710 | $19.09 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,900 | $14.37 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,480 | $13.69 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,630 | $14.25 |
| Dishwasher | $30,110 | $14.48 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $51,360 | $24.69 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,070 | $17.34 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Ames, IA
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 Ames, IA?
The median salary for bartenders in the Ames, IA metro area is $21,580 a year, or $10.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $17,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,780 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Ames, IA?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Ames, IA metro area earn at least $38,780 a year. The top 25% earn $26,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Ames, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $17,260 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $18,420 or less.
How many bartenders work in Ames, IA?
About 450 bartenders are employed in the Ames, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.