Bartender salary in Illinois
Bartenders in Illinois earn a median of $31,200 a year ($15.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 43,010 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,520 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $34,340. Illinois ranks 23rd of 51 states for bartenders pay. There are 7.1 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $35,550, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 75th percentile | $31,780 | $15.28 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,520 | $22.37 |
| Average (mean) | $35,550 | $17.09 |
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 | $2,600 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,300 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,200 |
| Weekly | $600 |
| Hourly | $15.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IL | $31,200 | 580 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $31,200 | 1,070 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $31,200 | 28,750 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 1,470 |
| Decatur, IL | $31,200 | 320 |
| Kankakee, IL | $31,200 | 290 |
| Peoria, IL | $31,200 | 1,330 |
| Rockford, IL | $31,200 | 1,220 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $31,200 | 8,340 |
| Springfield, IL | $31,200 | 870 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $28,600 | 280 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $26,350 | 180 |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,910 | $16.30 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,080 | $16.87 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,580 | $18.07 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,470 | $18.98 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,850 | $16.75 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dishwasher | $36,180 | $17.39 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $34,960 | $16.81 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $58,830 | $28.29 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $38,880 | $18.69 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,440 | $18.00 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for bartenders in Illinois is $31,200 a year, or $15.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,520 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Illinois?
The top 10% of bartenders in Illinois earn at least $46,520 a year. The top 25% earn $31,780 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Illinois?
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 Illinois?
About 43,010 bartenders are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.