Bartender salary in New York
Bartenders in New York earn a median of $61,210 a year ($29.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 43,130 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,530 for the top 10%. That is 78% higher than the national median of $34,340. New York ranks 2nd of 51 states for bartenders pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 4.5 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $61,670, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in New York
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,640 | $16.18 |
| 25th percentile | $37,090 | $17.83 |
| Median | $61,210 | $29.43 |
| 75th percentile | $77,750 | $37.38 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,530 | $44.96 |
| Average (mean) | $61,670 | $29.65 |
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 | $5,100.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,550.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,354.23 |
| Weekly | $1,177.12 |
| Hourly | $29.43 |
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 York
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $61,220 | 38,510 |
| Binghamton, NY | $47,950 | 640 |
| Kingston, NY | $47,760 | 450 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $47,370 | 1,970 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $46,920 | 2,890 |
| Syracuse, NY | $46,710 | 1,540 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $46,470 | 320 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $46,320 | 1,180 |
| Rochester, NY | $45,920 | 2,140 |
| Ithaca, NY | $44,040 | 280 |
| Elmira, NY | $41,110 | 170 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $38,860 | 760 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $36,170 | 260 |
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 York
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $35,250 | $16.95 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $47,020 | $22.61 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $39,370 | $18.93 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $47,190 | $22.69 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,610 | $17.12 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,740 | $17.66 |
| Dishwasher | $35,450 | $17.04 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,490 | $17.54 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,550 | $17.09 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $45,880 | $22.06 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $70,670 | $33.98 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $35,770 | $17.20 |
| Cooks, All Other | $43,000 | $20.67 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in New York
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 York?
The median salary for bartenders in New York is $61,210 a year, or $29.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,530 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in New York?
The top 10% of bartenders in New York earn at least $93,530 a year. The top 25% earn $77,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in New York?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,640 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $37,090 or less.
How many bartenders work in New York?
About 43,130 bartenders are employed in New York, not counting the self-employed.