Bartender salary in Charleston, WV
Bartenders in the Charleston, WV metro area earn a median of $30,900 a year ($14.86 an hour), based on BLS data for 350 workers.
Pay ranges from $18,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,920 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 4% higher than the West Virginia statewide median of $29,630. There are 3.4 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.70). The average (mean) salary is $38,360, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Charleston, WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,980 | $9.13 |
| 25th percentile | $23,160 | $11.14 |
| Median | $30,900 | $14.86 |
| 75th percentile | $46,000 | $22.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,920 | $31.21 |
| Average (mean) | $38,360 | $18.44 |
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 | $2,575 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,287.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,188.46 |
| Weekly | $594.23 |
| Hourly | $14.86 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $48,030 | 14,560 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $41,640 | 240 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $33,620 | 670 |
| Morgantown, WV | $30,310 | 420 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $30,010 | 240 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $29,280 | 570 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $29,100 | 190 |
| Beckley, WV | $29,060 | 170 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $28,530 | 370 |
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 West Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charleston, WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,900 | $17.74 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,380 | $10.76 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,330 | $14.58 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,180 | $11.14 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $30,450 | $14.64 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,450 | $14.16 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $30,050 | $14.45 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,970 | $13.45 |
| Dishwasher | $26,440 | $12.71 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $25,470 | $12.25 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,360 | $13.15 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,590 | $13.26 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Charleston, WV
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 Charleston, WV?
The median salary for bartenders in the Charleston, WV metro area is $30,900 a year, or $14.86 an hour. Pay ranges from $18,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,920 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Charleston, WV?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Charleston, WV metro area earn at least $64,920 a year. The top 25% earn $46,000 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Charleston, WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $18,980 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $23,160 or less.
How many bartenders work in Charleston, WV?
About 350 bartenders are employed in the Charleston, WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.