Bartender salary in Iowa
Bartenders in Iowa earn a median of $21,720 a year ($10.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,560 workers.
Pay ranges from $16,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,520 for the top 10%. That is 37% lower than the national median of $34,340. Iowa ranks 49th of 51 states for bartenders pay. There are 6.1 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $25,620, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,730 | $8.04 |
| 25th percentile | $18,460 | $8.87 |
| Median | $21,720 | $10.44 |
| 75th percentile | $28,400 | $13.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,520 | $19.00 |
| Average (mean) | $25,620 | $12.32 |
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 | $1,810 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $905 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $835.38 |
| Weekly | $417.69 |
| Hourly | $10.44 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in cities in Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $34,630 | 3,790 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 1,470 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $23,750 | 430 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $22,340 | 2,200 |
| Iowa City, IA | $21,900 | 790 |
| Dubuque, IA | $21,720 | 460 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $21,600 | 790 |
| Ames, IA | $21,580 | 450 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $21,540 | 540 |
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 Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,390 | $13.65 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $21,000 | $10.10 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,110 | $14.48 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,670 | $17.15 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,760 | $18.64 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,810 | $17.22 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,510 | $13.71 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,360 | $14.60 |
| Dishwasher | $29,300 | $14.09 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,210 | $13.56 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,210 | $13.56 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $47,990 | $23.07 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,090 | $16.39 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $33,480 | $16.10 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Iowa
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 Iowa?
The median salary for bartenders in Iowa is $21,720 a year, or $10.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $16,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,520 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Iowa?
The top 10% of bartenders in Iowa earn at least $39,520 a year. The top 25% earn $28,400 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $16,730 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $18,460 or less.
How many bartenders work in Iowa?
About 9,560 bartenders are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.