Bartender salary in Ann Arbor, MI
Bartenders in the Ann Arbor, MI metro area earn a median of $38,300 a year ($18.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 780 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,410 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 4% higher than the Michigan statewide median of $36,780. There are 3.6 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $47,190, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Ann Arbor, MI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,700 | $13.32 |
| 25th percentile | $29,520 | $14.19 |
| Median | $38,300 | $18.41 |
| 75th percentile | $60,200 | $28.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,410 | $39.14 |
| Average (mean) | $47,190 | $22.69 |
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 | $3,191.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,595.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,473.08 |
| Weekly | $736.54 |
| Hourly | $18.41 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $40,230 | 870 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $39,430 | 260 |
| Niles, MI | $38,970 | 520 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $38,430 | 2,730 |
| Midland, MI | $38,170 | 130 |
| Monroe, MI | $37,800 | 260 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $37,660 | 580 |
| Traverse City, MI | $37,300 | 610 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $36,960 | 410 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $36,780 | 7,660 |
| Saginaw, MI | $36,550 | 390 |
| Flint, MI | $36,130 | 700 |
| Jackson, MI | $35,740 | 260 |
| Bay City, MI | $34,720 | 220 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $23,000 | 580 |
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 Michigan statewide figures.
Related jobs in Ann Arbor, MI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,220 | $15.97 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $40,230 | $19.34 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,170 | $16.43 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $42,340 | $20.36 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $40,250 | $19.35 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,100 | $16.39 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,830 | $16.74 |
| Dishwasher | $34,440 | $16.56 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,570 | $14.22 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,690 | $14.27 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $60,910 | $29.29 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $32,020 | $15.39 |
| Cooks, All Other | $39,540 | $19.01 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Ann Arbor, MI
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 Ann Arbor, MI?
The median salary for bartenders in the Ann Arbor, MI metro area is $38,300 a year, or $18.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Ann Arbor, MI?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Ann Arbor, MI metro area earn at least $81,410 a year. The top 25% earn $60,200 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Ann Arbor, MI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,700 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $29,520 or less.
How many bartenders work in Ann Arbor, MI?
About 780 bartenders are employed in the Ann Arbor, MI metro area, not counting the self-employed.