Bartender salary in Johnson City, TN
Bartenders in the Johnson City, TN metro area earn a median of $21,700 a year ($10.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 270 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,650 for the top 10%. That is 37% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 21% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $27,480. There are 3.3 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.67). The average (mean) salary is $27,080, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Johnson City, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| 25th percentile | $16,570 | $7.97 |
| Median | $21,700 | $10.43 |
| 75th percentile | $34,640 | $16.65 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,650 | $22.91 |
| Average (mean) | $27,080 | $13.02 |
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 | $1,808.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $904.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $834.62 |
| Weekly | $417.31 |
| Hourly | $10.43 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $31,240 | 280 |
| Knoxville, TN | $28,860 | 1,400 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $28,710 | 1,380 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $28,190 | 4,540 |
| Cleveland, TN | $25,710 | 110 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $25,650 | 890 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $24,230 | 290 |
| Morristown, TN | $23,730 | 70 |
| Jackson, TN | $22,030 | 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 |
See Bartender pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Johnson City, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,270 | $12.63 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $22,070 | $10.61 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $27,050 | $13.01 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,800 | $17.69 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $26,850 | $12.91 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,620 | $16.65 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,430 | $12.71 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $31,330 | $15.06 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $22,320 | $10.73 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $23,360 | $11.23 |
| Dishwasher | $28,890 | $13.89 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $59,990 | $28.84 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,460 | $14.16 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Johnson City, TN
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 Johnson City, TN?
The median salary for bartenders in the Johnson City, TN metro area is $21,700 a year, or $10.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,650 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Johnson City, TN?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Johnson City, TN metro area earn at least $47,650 a year. The top 25% earn $34,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Johnson City, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,080 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $16,570 or less.
How many bartenders work in Johnson City, TN?
About 270 bartenders are employed in the Johnson City, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.