Bartender salary in Charlottesville, VA
Bartenders in the Charlottesville, VA metro area earn a median of $48,210 a year ($23.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 650 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,320 for the top 10%. That is 40% higher than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 2% higher than the Virginia statewide median of $47,070. There are 5.7 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $53,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Charlottesville, VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,200 | $14.52 |
| 25th percentile | $34,360 | $16.52 |
| Median | $48,210 | $23.18 |
| 75th percentile | $71,560 | $34.41 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,320 | $39.58 |
| Average (mean) | $53,850 | $25.89 |
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 | $4,017.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,008.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,854.23 |
| Weekly | $927.12 |
| Hourly | $23.18 |
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 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $46,700 | 2,860 |
| Roanoke, VA | $46,530 | 520 |
| Richmond, VA | $46,070 | 2,110 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $44,940 | 280 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $44,620 | 180 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $44,350 | 290 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $43,070 | 270 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $41,640 | 240 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $31,240 | 280 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charlottesville, VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $30,150 | $14.50 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $44,030 | $21.17 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,250 | $16.46 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,960 | $17.77 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,800 | $22.02 |
| Dishwasher | $33,090 | $15.91 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,510 | $18.52 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,210 | $16.45 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $33,040 | $15.89 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,210 | $14.53 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,990 | $29.80 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $32,250 | $15.50 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,970 | $16.33 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Charlottesville, VA
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 Charlottesville, VA?
The median salary for bartenders in the Charlottesville, VA metro area is $48,210 a year, or $23.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,320 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Charlottesville, VA?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Charlottesville, VA metro area earn at least $82,320 a year. The top 25% earn $71,560 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Charlottesville, VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,200 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $34,360 or less.
How many bartenders work in Charlottesville, VA?
About 650 bartenders are employed in the Charlottesville, VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.