Bartender salary in Kentucky
Bartenders in Kentucky earn a median of $28,780 a year ($13.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,870 workers.
Pay ranges from $16,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,140 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $34,340. Kentucky ranks 32nd of 51 states for bartenders pay. There are 3.4 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.71). The average (mean) salary is $34,970, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,110 | $7.75 |
| 25th percentile | $17,920 | $8.62 |
| Median | $28,780 | $13.84 |
| 75th percentile | $45,770 | $22.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,140 | $30.36 |
| Average (mean) | $34,970 | $16.81 |
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 | $2,398.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,199.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,106.92 |
| Weekly | $553.46 |
| Hourly | $13.84 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in cities in Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $34,240 | 5,870 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $30,640 | 1,340 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $29,280 | 570 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $29,120 | 2,830 |
| Owensboro, KY | $26,810 | 160 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $26,800 | 270 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $26,620 | 130 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $26,350 | 180 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $24,230 | 290 |
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 Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,130 | $13.04 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,660 | $14.26 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $32,200 | $15.48 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,500 | $11.30 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $35,810 | $17.21 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $26,850 | $12.91 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,640 | $16.65 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $31,550 | $15.17 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,100 | $13.03 |
| Dishwasher | $29,060 | $13.97 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,330 | $12.66 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,840 | $15.31 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky?
The median salary for bartenders in Kentucky is $28,780 a year, or $13.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $16,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of bartenders in Kentucky earn at least $63,140 a year. The top 25% earn $45,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $16,110 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $17,920 or less.
How many bartenders work in Kentucky?
About 6,870 bartenders are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.