Bartender salary in Minnesota
Bartenders in Minnesota earn a median of $26,900 a year ($12.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 24,420 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,790 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $34,340. Minnesota ranks 40th of 51 states for bartenders pay. There are 8.3 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $30,680, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Minnesota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,150 | $11.13 |
| 25th percentile | $23,850 | $11.47 |
| Median | $26,900 | $12.93 |
| 75th percentile | $33,050 | $15.89 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,790 | $18.65 |
| Average (mean) | $30,680 | $14.75 |
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 | $2,241.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,120.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,034.62 |
| Weekly | $517.31 |
| Hourly | $12.93 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in cities in Minnesota
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $30,180 | 1,260 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $28,770 | 490 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $28,390 | 1,380 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $27,600 | 15,370 |
| Rochester, MN | $27,000 | 940 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $25,970 | 780 |
| Mankato, MN | $24,710 | 450 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $23,540 | 1,630 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $23,130 | 1,200 |
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 Minnesota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,370 | $15.08 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $25,470 | $12.25 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,000 | $17.31 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,590 | $18.55 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,850 | $16.76 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,270 | $21.77 |
| Dishwasher | $34,060 | $16.38 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $43,460 | $20.90 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,210 | $14.04 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,200 | $14.52 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $34,120 | $16.41 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,600 | $30.10 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Cooks, All Other | $36,850 | $17.72 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Minnesota
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 Minnesota?
The median salary for bartenders in Minnesota is $26,900 a year, or $12.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,790 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Minnesota?
The top 10% of bartenders in Minnesota earn at least $38,790 a year. The top 25% earn $33,050 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Minnesota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,150 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $23,850 or less.
How many bartenders work in Minnesota?
About 24,420 bartenders are employed in Minnesota, not counting the self-employed.