Bartender salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Bartenders in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median of $28,710 a year ($13.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,380 workers.
Pay ranges from $16,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,350 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 4% higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $27,480. There are 2.3 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.46). The average (mean) salary is $33,840, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,560 | $7.96 |
| 25th percentile | $20,440 | $9.83 |
| Median | $28,710 | $13.80 |
| 75th percentile | $47,150 | $22.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,350 | $27.09 |
| Average (mean) | $33,840 | $16.27 |
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 | $2,392.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,196.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,104.23 |
| Weekly | $552.12 |
| Hourly | $13.80 |
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 |
| Jackson, MS | $29,230 | 430 |
| Knoxville, TN | $28,860 | 1,400 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $28,190 | 4,540 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $26,660 | 1,010 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $26,570 | 910 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | $26,360 | 170 |
| Cleveland, TN | $25,710 | 110 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $25,650 | 890 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $24,540 | 780 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $24,460 | 150 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $24,230 | 290 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $23,830 | 200 |
| Morristown, TN | $23,730 | 70 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $23,350 | 230 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $22,880 | 160 |
| 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,490 | $13.21 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $24,550 | $11.80 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,080 | $14.94 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,620 | $19.05 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,340 | $17.47 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,290 | $13.12 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,230 | $13.09 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,740 | $16.70 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,610 | $13.27 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $33,170 | $15.95 |
| Dishwasher | $29,700 | $14.28 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,880 | $14.37 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,230 | $31.84 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $38,530 | $18.52 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The median salary for bartenders in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $28,710 a year, or $13.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $16,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,350 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn at least $56,350 a year. The top 25% earn $47,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $16,560 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $20,440 or less.
How many bartenders work in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
About 1,380 bartenders are employed in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area, not counting the self-employed.