Bartender salary in Arkansas
Bartenders in Arkansas earn a median of $25,090 a year ($12.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,020 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,830 for the top 10%. That is 27% lower than the national median of $34,340. Arkansas ranks 42nd of 51 states for bartenders pay. There are 2.3 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.48). The average (mean) salary is $32,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Arkansas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,880 | $11.00 |
| 25th percentile | $23,350 | $11.23 |
| Median | $25,090 | $12.06 |
| 75th percentile | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,830 | $27.32 |
| Average (mean) | $32,850 | $15.80 |
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 | $2,090.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,045.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $965 |
| Weekly | $482.50 |
| Hourly | $12.06 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in cities in Arkansas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $28,710 | 1,380 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $26,570 | 910 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $24,540 | 780 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $24,460 | 150 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $23,830 | 200 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $23,350 | 230 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $22,880 | 160 |
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 Arkansas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,250 | $12.62 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $24,680 | $11.86 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $27,600 | $13.27 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $30,180 | $14.51 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $33,800 | $16.25 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,710 | $13.32 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $30,240 | $14.54 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,660 | $13.30 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,760 | $12.87 |
| Dishwasher | $27,540 | $13.24 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,670 | $13.30 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $46,170 | $22.20 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $31,660 | $15.22 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,510 | $14.67 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Arkansas
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 Arkansas?
The median salary for bartenders in Arkansas is $25,090 a year, or $12.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,830 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Arkansas?
The top 10% of bartenders in Arkansas earn at least $56,830 a year. The top 25% earn $31,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Arkansas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,880 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $23,350 or less.
How many bartenders work in Arkansas?
About 3,020 bartenders are employed in Arkansas, not counting the self-employed.