Bartender salary in Colorado
Bartenders in Colorado earn a median of $38,170 a year ($18.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 17,000 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $94,880 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $34,340. Colorado ranks 12th of 51 states for bartenders pay. There are 5.9 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $51,250, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Colorado
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,800 | $14.81 |
| 25th percentile | $32,430 | $15.59 |
| Median | $38,170 | $18.35 |
| 75th percentile | $62,640 | $30.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $94,880 | $45.62 |
| Average (mean) | $51,250 | $24.64 |
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 | $3,180.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,590.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,468.08 |
| Weekly | $734.04 |
| Hourly | $18.35 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in cities in Colorado
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $46,290 | 1,210 |
| Boulder, CO | $42,520 | 970 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $37,700 | 1,720 |
| Greeley, CO | $37,680 | 510 |
| Pueblo, CO | $37,630 | 330 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $37,180 | 9,430 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $36,180 | 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 |
Related jobs in Colorado
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $36,270 | $17.44 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $44,860 | $21.57 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $38,900 | $18.70 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $50,550 | $24.30 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,960 | $18.73 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,340 | $17.47 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $42,500 | $20.43 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $36,900 | $17.74 |
| Dishwasher | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,790 | $17.69 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $65,400 | $31.44 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,710 | $17.17 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,450 | $20.41 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Colorado
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 Colorado?
The median salary for bartenders in Colorado is $38,170 a year, or $18.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $94,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Colorado?
The top 10% of bartenders in Colorado earn at least $94,880 a year. The top 25% earn $62,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Colorado?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,800 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $32,430 or less.
How many bartenders work in Colorado?
About 17,000 bartenders are employed in Colorado, not counting the self-employed.