Bartender salary in Lexington-Fayette, KY
Bartenders in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn a median of $30,640 a year ($14.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,340 workers.
Pay ranges from $16,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,490 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 6% higher than the Kentucky statewide median of $28,780. There are 4.7 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $36,730, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,210 | $7.79 |
| 25th percentile | $17,670 | $8.49 |
| Median | $30,640 | $14.73 |
| 75th percentile | $47,540 | $22.86 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,490 | $30.52 |
| Average (mean) | $36,730 | $17.66 |
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 | $2,553.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,276.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,178.46 |
| Weekly | $589.23 |
| Hourly | $14.73 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $34,240 | 5,870 |
| 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 |
See Bartender pay in every state or the Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,990 | $13.46 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $34,910 | $16.79 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,430 | $14.63 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,840 | $12.91 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,350 | $17.48 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,340 | $13.14 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,970 | $17.30 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,470 | $17.53 |
| Dishwasher | $31,110 | $14.96 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,920 | $13.42 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $24,090 | $11.58 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $56,790 | $27.30 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $39,040 | $18.77 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Lexington-Fayette, KY
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 Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The median salary for bartenders in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area is $30,640 a year, or $14.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $16,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,490 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn at least $63,490 a year. The top 25% earn $47,540 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $16,210 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $17,670 or less.
How many bartenders work in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
About 1,340 bartenders are employed in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area, not counting the self-employed.