Bartender salary in Indiana
Bartenders in Indiana earn a median of $22,770 a year ($10.95 an hour), based on BLS data for 12,880 workers.
Pay ranges from $17,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,000 for the top 10%. That is 34% lower than the national median of $34,340. Indiana ranks 46th of 51 states for bartenders pay. There are 4.0 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $27,780, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Indiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,050 | $8.20 |
| 25th percentile | $20,220 | $9.72 |
| Median | $22,770 | $10.95 |
| 75th percentile | $30,940 | $14.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,000 | $21.64 |
| Average (mean) | $27,780 | $13.36 |
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 | $1,897.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $948.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $875.77 |
| Weekly | $437.88 |
| Hourly | $10.95 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in cities in Indiana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $34,240 | 5,870 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $31,200 | 28,750 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $29,120 | 2,830 |
| Columbus, IN | $23,700 | 150 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $23,120 | 210 |
| Kokomo, IN | $23,060 | 180 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $23,010 | 850 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $23,000 | 580 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $22,880 | 4,480 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $22,680 | 460 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $22,430 | 250 |
| Bloomington, IN | $22,370 | 440 |
| Evansville, IN | $22,360 | 590 |
| Muncie, IN | $21,780 | 200 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $21,090 | 410 |
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 Indiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,790 | $13.84 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,480 | $13.69 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,170 | $16.91 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,700 | $14.28 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,980 | $17.30 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,320 | $13.62 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,920 | $12.94 |
| Dishwasher | $29,480 | $14.17 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,870 | $14.36 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $21,940 | $10.55 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $52,190 | $25.09 |
| Cooks, All Other | $44,290 | $21.30 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Indiana
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 Indiana?
The median salary for bartenders in Indiana is $22,770 a year, or $10.95 an hour. Pay ranges from $17,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Indiana?
The top 10% of bartenders in Indiana earn at least $45,000 a year. The top 25% earn $30,940 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Indiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $17,050 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $20,220 or less.
How many bartenders work in Indiana?
About 12,880 bartenders are employed in Indiana, not counting the self-employed.