Bartender salary in Cleveland, TN
Bartenders in the Cleveland, TN metro area earn a median of $25,710 a year ($12.36 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $16,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,740 for the top 10%. That is 25% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 6% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $27,480. There are 2.5 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.52). The average (mean) salary is $30,840, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Cleveland, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,060 | $7.72 |
| 25th percentile | $18,280 | $8.79 |
| Median | $25,710 | $12.36 |
| 75th percentile | $38,070 | $18.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $52,740 | $25.36 |
| Average (mean) | $30,840 | $14.83 |
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 | $2,142.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,071.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $988.85 |
| Weekly | $494.42 |
| Hourly | $12.36 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $25,650 | 890 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $24,230 | 290 |
| Morristown, TN | $23,730 | 70 |
| Jackson, TN | $22,030 | 180 |
| Johnson City, TN | $21,700 | 270 |
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 Cleveland, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,140 | $12.57 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $23,300 | $11.20 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,640 | $14.73 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,580 | $17.59 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $24,240 | $11.65 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,030 | $16.84 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $25,430 | $12.23 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,130 | $12.56 |
| Dishwasher | $28,450 | $13.68 |
| Cooks, All Other | $20,420 | $9.82 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $28,660 | $13.78 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,180 | $29.89 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Cleveland, TN
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 Cleveland, TN?
The median salary for bartenders in the Cleveland, TN metro area is $25,710 a year, or $12.36 an hour. Pay ranges from $16,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,740 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Cleveland, TN?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Cleveland, TN metro area earn at least $52,740 a year. The top 25% earn $38,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Cleveland, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $16,060 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $18,280 or less.
How many bartenders work in Cleveland, TN?
About 110 bartenders are employed in the Cleveland, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.