Bartender salary in California
Bartenders in California earn a median of $36,220 a year ($17.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 71,470 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,130 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $34,340. California ranks 20th of 51 states for bartenders pay. There are 3.9 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $44,780, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| 25th percentile | $34,660 | $16.66 |
| Median | $36,220 | $17.41 |
| 75th percentile | $40,990 | $19.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,130 | $36.12 |
| Average (mean) | $44,780 | $21.53 |
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 | $3,018.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,509.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,393.08 |
| Weekly | $696.54 |
| Hourly | $17.41 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $42,270 | 2,790 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $39,670 | 10,260 |
| Napa, CA | $37,790 | 580 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $37,680 | 1,310 |
| Vallejo, CA | $36,870 | 450 |
| Salinas, CA | $36,350 | 830 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $36,260 | 8,740 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $36,100 | 560 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $35,810 | 1,160 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $35,630 | 730 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $35,590 | 1,270 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $35,510 | 25,260 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $35,510 | 4,060 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $35,240 | 130 |
| Modesto, CA | $35,100 | 600 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $34,840 | 6,360 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $34,770 | 740 |
| Merced, CA | $34,680 | 180 |
| El Centro, CA | $34,620 | 130 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $34,320 | 830 |
| Chico, CA | $34,320 | 390 |
| Fresno, CA | $34,320 | 1,270 |
| Redding, CA | $34,320 | 250 |
| Visalia, CA | $34,320 | 420 |
| Yuba City, CA | $34,320 | 170 |
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 California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $42,280 | $20.33 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $39,010 | $18.75 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,980 | $22.59 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $42,050 | $20.21 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,350 | $18.92 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,010 | $17.31 |
| Dishwasher | $37,870 | $18.21 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,640 | $17.62 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,500 | $31.01 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,390 | $22.31 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,930 | $20.64 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,910 | $17.75 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for bartenders in California is $36,220 a year, or $17.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in California?
The top 10% of bartenders in California earn at least $75,130 a year. The top 25% earn $40,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,320 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $34,660 or less.
How many bartenders work in California?
About 71,470 bartenders are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.