Bartender salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Bartenders in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $37,110 a year ($17.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,180 workers.
Pay ranges from $16,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $72,350 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 2% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $36,470. There are 3.4 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.71). The average (mean) salary is $42,080, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,770 | $8.06 |
| 25th percentile | $22,530 | $10.83 |
| Median | $37,110 | $17.84 |
| 75th percentile | $60,100 | $28.89 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $72,350 | $34.79 |
| Average (mean) | $42,080 | $20.23 |
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 | $3,092.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,546.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,427.31 |
| Weekly | $713.65 |
| Hourly | $17.84 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $46,700 | 2,860 |
| Wilmington, NC | $37,890 | 1,460 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $37,700 | 280 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $37,390 | 5,660 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $36,120 | 3,070 |
| Asheville, NC | $35,380 | 1,240 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $34,920 | 1,020 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $34,880 | 500 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $34,550 | 1,310 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $33,800 | 140 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $31,860 | 530 |
| Burlington, NC | $31,170 | 260 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $31,000 | 240 |
| Greenville, NC | $30,190 | 300 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $27,740 | 130 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,170 | $14.02 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,230 | $16.94 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,500 | $16.59 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,190 | $14.04 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,170 | $17.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,150 | $22.19 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,560 | $16.62 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,970 | $18.73 |
| Dishwasher | $33,800 | $16.25 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,440 | $14.16 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,410 | $13.18 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,090 | $31.77 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $34,480 | $16.58 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,040 | $16.85 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for bartenders in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $37,110 a year, or $17.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $16,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $72,350 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $72,350 a year. The top 25% earn $60,100 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $16,770 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $22,530 or less.
How many bartenders work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 1,180 bartenders are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.