Bartender salary in Columbus, GA-AL
Bartenders in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area earn a median of $20,940 a year ($10.07 an hour), based on BLS data for 380 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,110 for the top 10%. That is 39% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 8% lower than the Georgia statewide median of $22,830. There are 3.3 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.67). The average (mean) salary is $27,960, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Columbus, GA-AL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| 25th percentile | $16,930 | $8.14 |
| Median | $20,940 | $10.07 |
| 75th percentile | $30,030 | $14.44 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,110 | $24.57 |
| Average (mean) | $27,960 | $13.44 |
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 | $1,745 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $872.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $805.38 |
| Weekly | $402.69 |
| Hourly | $10.07 |
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 |
| Decatur, AL | $30,540 | 100 |
| Birmingham, AL | $30,010 | 1,590 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $28,360 | 740 |
| Huntsville, AL | $28,210 | 850 |
| Mobile, AL | $27,980 | 570 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $27,730 | 190 |
| Dothan, AL | $27,420 | 190 |
| Montgomery, AL | $26,830 | 460 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $26,830 | 450 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $26,210 | 400 |
| Valdosta, GA | $25,920 | 170 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | $25,760 | 120 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $25,650 | 890 |
| Rome, GA | $24,490 | 90 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $24,330 | 300 |
| Gainesville, GA | $24,180 | 150 |
| Gadsden, AL | $23,700 | 120 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $23,350 | 9,370 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $22,770 | 280 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $22,580 | 180 |
| Savannah, GA | $21,980 | 1,070 |
| Albany, GA | $21,920 | 140 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $21,100 | 730 |
| 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 Georgia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbus, GA-AL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $23,300 | $11.20 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $20,800 | $10.00 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $28,360 | $13.64 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,180 | $17.39 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $30,470 | $14.65 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,030 | $13.96 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,560 | $12.77 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $25,740 | $12.38 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $24,890 | $11.96 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $31,940 | $15.36 |
| Dishwasher | $28,490 | $13.70 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,920 | $30.25 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $26,370 | $12.68 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Columbus, GA-AL
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 Columbus, GA-AL?
The median salary for bartenders in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area is $20,940 a year, or $10.07 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,110 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Columbus, GA-AL?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area earn at least $51,110 a year. The top 25% earn $30,030 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Columbus, GA-AL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,080 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $16,930 or less.
How many bartenders work in Columbus, GA-AL?
About 380 bartenders are employed in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area, not counting the self-employed.