Bartender salary in Chattanooga, TN-GA
Bartenders in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn a median of $25,650 a year ($12.33 an hour), based on BLS data for 890 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,350 for the top 10%. That is 25% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 7% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $27,480. 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 $31,360, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Chattanooga, TN-GA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,330 | $7.37 |
| 25th percentile | $18,040 | $8.67 |
| Median | $25,650 | $12.33 |
| 75th percentile | $46,200 | $22.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,350 | $24.69 |
| Average (mean) | $31,360 | $15.08 |
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 | $2,137.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,068.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $986.54 |
| Weekly | $493.27 |
| Hourly | $12.33 |
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 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $31,240 | 280 |
| Knoxville, TN | $28,860 | 1,400 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $28,710 | 1,380 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $28,190 | 4,540 |
| Valdosta, GA | $25,920 | 170 |
| Cleveland, TN | $25,710 | 110 |
| Rome, GA | $24,490 | 90 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $24,330 | 300 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $24,230 | 290 |
| Gainesville, GA | $24,180 | 150 |
| Morristown, TN | $23,730 | 70 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $23,350 | 9,370 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $22,770 | 280 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $22,580 | 180 |
| Jackson, TN | $22,030 | 180 |
| Savannah, GA | $21,980 | 1,070 |
| Albany, GA | $21,920 | 140 |
| Johnson City, TN | $21,700 | 270 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $21,100 | 730 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $20,940 | 380 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $20,400 | 480 |
| 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 Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chattanooga, TN-GA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,140 | $13.05 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $24,240 | $11.66 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,740 | $14.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,220 | $18.85 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,010 | $17.31 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,300 | $14.57 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,750 | $13.34 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,890 | $12.93 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $33,410 | $16.06 |
| Dishwasher | $29,430 | $14.15 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,870 | $13.40 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $37,410 | $17.99 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,690 | $30.62 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,950 | $14.40 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Chattanooga, TN-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 Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The median salary for bartenders in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area is $25,650 a year, or $12.33 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,350 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn at least $51,350 a year. The top 25% earn $46,200 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,330 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $18,040 or less.
How many bartenders work in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
About 890 bartenders are employed in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area, not counting the self-employed.