Bartender salary in Bowling Green, KY
Bartenders in the Bowling Green, KY metro area earn a median of $26,800 a year ($12.88 an hour), based on BLS data for 270 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,370 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 7% lower than the Kentucky statewide median of $28,780. There are 3.3 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.68). The average (mean) salary is $31,840, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Bowling Green, KY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,390 | $7.40 |
| 25th percentile | $16,310 | $7.84 |
| Median | $26,800 | $12.88 |
| 75th percentile | $38,580 | $18.55 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,370 | $28.54 |
| Average (mean) | $31,840 | $15.31 |
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 | $2,233.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,116.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,030.77 |
| Weekly | $515.38 |
| Hourly | $12.88 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $34,240 | 5,870 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $30,640 | 1,340 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $29,280 | 570 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $29,120 | 2,830 |
| Owensboro, KY | $26,810 | 160 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $26,620 | 130 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $26,350 | 180 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $24,230 | 290 |
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 Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Bowling Green, KY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,650 | $13.30 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,810 | $13.85 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,040 | $16.37 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,150 | $18.34 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,450 | $11.28 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $26,410 | $12.70 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $31,040 | $14.92 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $31,550 | $15.17 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $24,500 | $11.78 |
| Dishwasher | $28,740 | $13.82 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,200 | $12.59 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $54,080 | $26.00 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,590 | $13.26 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Bowling Green, KY
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 Bowling Green, KY?
The median salary for bartenders in the Bowling Green, KY metro area is $26,800 a year, or $12.88 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,370 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Bowling Green, KY?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Bowling Green, KY metro area earn at least $59,370 a year. The top 25% earn $38,580 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Bowling Green, KY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,390 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $16,310 or less.
How many bartenders work in Bowling Green, KY?
About 270 bartenders are employed in the Bowling Green, KY metro area, not counting the self-employed.