Bartender salary in Michigan
Bartenders in Michigan earn a median of $36,780 a year ($17.68 an hour), based on BLS data for 21,100 workers.
Pay ranges from $25,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,090 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $34,340. Michigan ranks 17th of 51 states for bartenders pay. There are 4.8 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $44,470, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Michigan
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,960 | $12.48 |
| 25th percentile | $28,640 | $13.77 |
| Median | $36,780 | $17.68 |
| 75th percentile | $57,310 | $27.55 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,090 | $36.58 |
| Average (mean) | $44,470 | $21.38 |
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 | $3,065 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,532.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,414.62 |
| Weekly | $707.31 |
| Hourly | $17.68 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in cities in Michigan
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $40,230 | 870 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $39,430 | 260 |
| Niles, MI | $38,970 | 520 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $38,430 | 2,730 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $38,300 | 780 |
| Midland, MI | $38,170 | 130 |
| Monroe, MI | $37,800 | 260 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $37,660 | 580 |
| Traverse City, MI | $37,300 | 610 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $36,960 | 410 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $36,780 | 7,660 |
| Saginaw, MI | $36,550 | 390 |
| Flint, MI | $36,130 | 700 |
| Jackson, MI | $35,740 | 260 |
| Bay City, MI | $34,720 | 220 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $23,000 | 580 |
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 Michigan
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,930 | $13.91 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $37,760 | $18.16 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,260 | $16.47 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,980 | $17.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,940 | $18.24 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,180 | $14.99 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,460 | $14.17 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,870 | $17.72 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,390 | $14.61 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,950 | $13.92 |
| Dishwasher | $31,300 | $15.05 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $60,070 | $28.88 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,510 | $16.59 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,100 | $16.88 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Michigan
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 Michigan?
The median salary for bartenders in Michigan is $36,780 a year, or $17.68 an hour. Pay ranges from $25,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,090 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Michigan?
The top 10% of bartenders in Michigan earn at least $76,090 a year. The top 25% earn $57,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Michigan?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $25,960 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $28,640 or less.
How many bartenders work in Michigan?
About 21,100 bartenders are employed in Michigan, not counting the self-employed.