Bartender salary in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
Bartenders in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn a median of $34,240 a year ($16.46 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,870 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,760 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 11% higher than the Ohio statewide median of $30,880. There are 5.3 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $42,680, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,400 | $10.77 |
| 25th percentile | $26,630 | $12.80 |
| Median | $34,240 | $16.46 |
| 75th percentile | $49,820 | $23.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,760 | $36.42 |
| Average (mean) | $42,680 | $20.52 |
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 | $2,853.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,426.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,316.92 |
| Weekly | $658.46 |
| Hourly | $16.46 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | $37,000 | 5,030 |
| Cleveland, OH | $33,470 | 5,750 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $31,200 | 28,750 |
| Akron, OH | $31,120 | 1,530 |
| Toledo, OH | $30,820 | 1,480 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $30,640 | 1,340 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $30,450 | 810 |
| Lima, OH | $30,270 | 220 |
| Sandusky, OH | $30,130 | 710 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $30,010 | 240 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $29,830 | 1,680 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $29,520 | 850 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $29,280 | 570 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $29,120 | 2,830 |
| Mansfield, OH | $28,640 | 270 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $28,530 | 370 |
| Springfield, OH | $28,440 | 160 |
| Owensboro, KY | $26,810 | 160 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $26,800 | 270 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $26,620 | 130 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $26,350 | 180 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $24,230 | 290 |
| Columbus, IN | $23,700 | 150 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $23,120 | 210 |
| Kokomo, IN | $23,060 | 180 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $23,010 | 850 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $23,000 | 580 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $22,880 | 4,480 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $22,680 | 460 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $22,430 | 250 |
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 Ohio statewide figures.
Related jobs in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,720 | $14.29 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,530 | $17.56 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $32,070 | $15.42 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,030 | $17.32 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,370 | $18.45 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,930 | $13.91 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,180 | $17.87 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,350 | $14.11 |
| Dishwasher | $30,740 | $14.78 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,890 | $14.37 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $56,620 | $27.22 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $32,180 | $15.47 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $28,090 | $13.50 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
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 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
The median salary for bartenders in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area is $34,240 a year, or $16.46 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,760 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn at least $75,760 a year. The top 25% earn $49,820 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,400 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $26,630 or less.
How many bartenders work in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
About 5,870 bartenders are employed in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.