Bartender salary in Kansas
Bartenders in Kansas earn a median of $27,940 a year ($13.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,430 workers.
Pay ranges from $17,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,010 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $34,340. Kansas ranks 36th of 51 states for bartenders pay. There are 3.8 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.78). The average (mean) salary is $35,780, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Kansas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,150 | $8.24 |
| 25th percentile | $21,130 | $10.16 |
| Median | $27,940 | $13.43 |
| 75th percentile | $46,700 | $22.45 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,010 | $31.74 |
| Average (mean) | $35,780 | $17.20 |
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 | $2,328.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,164.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,074.62 |
| Weekly | $537.31 |
| Hourly | $13.43 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in cities in Kansas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $30,300 | 4,890 |
| Lawrence, KS | $29,980 | 470 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $29,000 | 210 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $28,600 | 310 |
| Wichita, KS | $28,540 | 1,300 |
| Topeka, KS | $27,860 | 470 |
| Manhattan, KS | $27,160 | 250 |
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 Kansas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,580 | $13.26 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,120 | $17.36 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,040 | $13.96 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,130 | $16.89 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,220 | $18.37 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,280 | $14.56 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $31,950 | $15.36 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,110 | $13.51 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,300 | $12.65 |
| Dishwasher | $28,060 | $13.49 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,640 | $13.77 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $58,390 | $28.07 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,400 | $13.17 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Kansas
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 Kansas?
The median salary for bartenders in Kansas is $27,940 a year, or $13.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $17,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,010 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Kansas?
The top 10% of bartenders in Kansas earn at least $66,010 a year. The top 25% earn $46,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Kansas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $17,150 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $21,130 or less.
How many bartenders work in Kansas?
About 5,430 bartenders are employed in Kansas, not counting the self-employed.