Bartender salary in New Jersey
Bartenders in New Jersey earn a median of $44,020 a year ($21.16 an hour), based on BLS data for 16,260 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,480 for the top 10%. That is 28% higher than the national median of $34,340. New Jersey ranks 9th of 51 states for bartenders pay. There are 3.8 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.78). The average (mean) salary is $51,440, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| 25th percentile | $35,330 | $16.98 |
| Median | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| 75th percentile | $58,310 | $28.04 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,480 | $38.69 |
| Average (mean) | $51,440 | $24.73 |
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 | $3,668.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,834.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,693.08 |
| Weekly | $846.54 |
| Hourly | $21.16 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in cities in New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $61,220 | 38,510 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $39,300 | 1,890 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $38,800 | 580 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $36,040 | 14,210 |
| Vineland, NJ | $35,590 | 120 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $32,220 | 1,980 |
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 New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,150 | $16.42 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $44,960 | $21.62 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,390 | $17.50 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,420 | $23.28 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,170 | $16.43 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,050 | $16.37 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $74,280 | $35.71 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,520 | $21.40 |
| Dishwasher | $35,900 | $17.26 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,290 | $17.45 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $40,720 | $19.58 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in New Jersey
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for bartenders in New Jersey is $44,020 a year, or $21.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of bartenders in New Jersey earn at least $80,480 a year. The top 25% earn $58,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,220 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $35,330 or less.
How many bartenders work in New Jersey?
About 16,260 bartenders are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.