Bartender salary in Knoxville, TN
Bartenders in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median of $28,860 a year ($13.87 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,400 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,360 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 5% higher 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 0.68). The average (mean) salary is $32,530, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Knoxville, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,350 | $7.38 |
| 25th percentile | $18,770 | $9.02 |
| Median | $28,860 | $13.87 |
| 75th percentile | $44,640 | $21.46 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,360 | $26.14 |
| Average (mean) | $32,530 | $15.64 |
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 | $2,405 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,202.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,110 |
| Weekly | $555 |
| Hourly | $13.87 |
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 |
| 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 |
| Johnson City, TN | $21,700 | 270 |
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 Knoxville, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,720 | $13.33 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,100 | $13.51 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,100 | $13.99 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $41,380 | $19.89 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,520 | $17.56 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,960 | $14.89 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,580 | $13.26 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,250 | $13.10 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,080 | $14.46 |
| Dishwasher | $29,530 | $14.20 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,150 | $16.90 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,970 | $17.29 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,770 | $30.18 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,210 | $14.52 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Knoxville, 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 Knoxville, TN?
The median salary for bartenders in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $28,860 a year, or $13.87 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,360 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Knoxville, TN?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn at least $54,360 a year. The top 25% earn $44,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Knoxville, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,350 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $18,770 or less.
How many bartenders work in Knoxville, TN?
About 1,400 bartenders are employed in the Knoxville, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.