Bartender salary in Delaware
Bartenders in Delaware earn a median of $36,840 a year ($17.71 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,820 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,420 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $34,340. Delaware ranks 16th of 51 states for bartenders pay. There are 5.8 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $42,890, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Delaware
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $36,840 | $17.71 |
| 75th percentile | $48,040 | $23.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,420 | $29.05 |
| Average (mean) | $42,890 | $20.62 |
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 | $3,070 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,535 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,416.92 |
| Weekly | $708.46 |
| Hourly | $17.71 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in cities in Delaware
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $36,040 | 14,210 |
| Dover, DE | $35,210 | 290 |
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 Delaware
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,300 | $15.05 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,880 | $17.73 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,430 | $15.11 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,120 | $23.13 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,080 | $21.19 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,930 | $17.28 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,880 | $15.33 |
| Dishwasher | $35,780 | $17.20 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,440 | $29.54 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,500 | $18.51 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $33,840 | $16.27 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Delaware
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 Delaware?
The median salary for bartenders in Delaware is $36,840 a year, or $17.71 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Delaware?
The top 10% of bartenders in Delaware earn at least $60,420 a year. The top 25% earn $48,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Delaware?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $31,200 or less.
How many bartenders work in Delaware?
About 2,820 bartenders are employed in Delaware, not counting the self-employed.