Bartender salary in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Bartenders in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median of $37,180 a year ($17.88 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,430 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,950 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 3% lower than the Colorado statewide median of $38,170. There are 5.9 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $51,920, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,080 | $14.94 |
| 25th percentile | $32,600 | $15.67 |
| Median | $37,180 | $17.88 |
| 75th percentile | $63,390 | $30.48 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,950 | $47.09 |
| Average (mean) | $51,920 | $24.96 |
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 | $3,098.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,549.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,430 |
| Weekly | $715 |
| Hourly | $17.88 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Bartender pay in every state or the Colorado statewide figures.
Related jobs in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $37,070 | $17.82 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $39,650 | $19.06 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $39,850 | $19.16 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $44,370 | $21.33 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $52,520 | $25.25 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,470 | $18.98 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,340 | $17.47 |
| Dishwasher | $38,710 | $18.61 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $45,070 | $21.67 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,880 | $17.73 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $38,530 | $18.53 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,970 | $32.20 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,770 | $17.20 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $44,200 | $21.25 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median salary for bartenders in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $37,180 a year, or $17.88 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn at least $97,950 a year. The top 25% earn $63,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,080 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $32,600 or less.
How many bartenders work in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
About 9,430 bartenders are employed in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area, not counting the self-employed.