Bartender salary in Arizona
Bartenders in Arizona earn a median of $45,070 a year ($21.67 an hour), based on BLS data for 14,840 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,720 for the top 10%. That is 31% higher than the national median of $34,340. Arizona ranks 8th of 51 states for bartenders pay. There are 4.6 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $54,030, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Arizona
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,650 | $14.74 |
| 25th percentile | $33,520 | $16.12 |
| Median | $45,070 | $21.67 |
| 75th percentile | $73,320 | $35.25 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $86,720 | $41.69 |
| Average (mean) | $54,030 | $25.98 |
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 | $3,755.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,877.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,733.46 |
| Weekly | $866.73 |
| Hourly | $21.67 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in cities in Arizona
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $46,940 | 10,580 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $42,340 | 460 |
| Yuma, AZ | $42,210 | 310 |
| Tucson, AZ | $36,450 | 1,840 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $36,270 | 550 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $35,960 | 380 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $35,790 | 190 |
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 Arizona
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,230 | $16.46 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $43,950 | $21.13 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,390 | $17.01 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $40,550 | $19.49 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,500 | $17.55 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $32,660 | $15.70 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,740 | $16.70 |
| Dishwasher | $35,130 | $16.89 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $39,660 | $19.07 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $59,890 | $28.79 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $37,600 | $18.08 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Arizona
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 Arizona?
The median salary for bartenders in Arizona is $45,070 a year, or $21.67 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Arizona?
The top 10% of bartenders in Arizona earn at least $86,720 a year. The top 25% earn $73,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Arizona?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,650 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $33,520 or less.
How many bartenders work in Arizona?
About 14,840 bartenders are employed in Arizona, not counting the self-employed.