Bartender salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Bartenders in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn a median of $23,830 a year ($11.46 an hour), based on BLS data for 200 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,250 for the top 10%. That is 31% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 5% lower than the Arkansas statewide median of $25,090. There are 2.1 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.42). The average (mean) salary is $33,730, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,880 | $11.00 |
| 25th percentile | $22,920 | $11.02 |
| Median | $23,830 | $11.46 |
| 75th percentile | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,250 | $28.01 |
| Average (mean) | $33,730 | $16.21 |
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 | $1,985.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $992.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $916.54 |
| Weekly | $458.27 |
| Hourly | $11.46 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $28,710 | 1,380 |
| Enid, OK | $27,700 | 80 |
| Tulsa, OK | $27,450 | 1,710 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $26,570 | 910 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $24,790 | 2,530 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $24,540 | 780 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $24,460 | 150 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $23,350 | 230 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $22,880 | 160 |
| Lawton, OK | $21,230 | 140 |
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 Arkansas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $23,760 | $11.42 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $23,680 | $11.39 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $27,040 | $13.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $30,780 | $14.80 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,370 | $14.12 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,480 | $12.73 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $29,380 | $14.12 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $26,900 | $12.93 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $24,140 | $11.61 |
| Dishwasher | $26,630 | $12.80 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,870 | $13.40 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Fort Smith, AR-OK
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 Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The median salary for bartenders in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area is $23,830 a year, or $11.46 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,250 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn at least $58,250 a year. The top 25% earn $32,220 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,880 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $22,920 or less.
How many bartenders work in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
About 200 bartenders are employed in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area, not counting the self-employed.