Bartender salary in Athens-Clarke County, GA
Bartenders in the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area earn a median of $20,400 a year ($9.81 an hour), based on BLS data for 480 workers.
Pay ranges from $16,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,680 for the top 10%. That is 41% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 11% lower than the Georgia statewide median of $22,830. There are 5.0 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $27,880, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Athens-Clarke County, GA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,040 | $7.71 |
| 25th percentile | $17,690 | $8.51 |
| Median | $20,400 | $9.81 |
| 75th percentile | $31,080 | $14.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,680 | $23.89 |
| Average (mean) | $27,880 | $13.40 |
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 | $1,700 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $850 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $784.62 |
| Weekly | $392.31 |
| Hourly | $9.81 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hinesville, GA | $31,760 | 40 |
| Valdosta, GA | $25,920 | 170 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $25,650 | 890 |
| Rome, GA | $24,490 | 90 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $24,330 | 300 |
| Gainesville, GA | $24,180 | 150 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $23,350 | 9,370 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $22,770 | 280 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $22,580 | 180 |
| Savannah, GA | $21,980 | 1,070 |
| Albany, GA | $21,920 | 140 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $21,100 | 730 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $20,940 | 380 |
| Dalton, GA | $20,260 | 90 |
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 Georgia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Athens-Clarke County, GA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $24,220 | $11.64 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $21,090 | $10.14 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,680 | $15.23 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,060 | $17.82 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $33,540 | $16.12 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,190 | $15.00 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $25,840 | $12.42 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $24,960 | $12.00 |
| Dishwasher | $27,870 | $13.40 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $33,960 | $16.33 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,120 | $14.96 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $22,020 | $10.59 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $50,330 | $24.20 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Athens-Clarke County, GA
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 Athens-Clarke County, GA?
The median salary for bartenders in the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area is $20,400 a year, or $9.81 an hour. Pay ranges from $16,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,680 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Athens-Clarke County, GA?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area earn at least $49,680 a year. The top 25% earn $31,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Athens-Clarke County, GA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $16,040 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $17,690 or less.
How many bartenders work in Athens-Clarke County, GA?
About 480 bartenders are employed in the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area, not counting the self-employed.