Bartender salary in North Carolina
Bartenders in North Carolina earn a median of $36,470 a year ($17.53 an hour), based on BLS data for 20,070 workers.
Pay ranges from $16,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,450 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $34,340. North Carolina ranks 18th of 51 states for bartenders pay. There are 4.1 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $41,200, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,180 | $7.78 |
| 25th percentile | $21,740 | $10.45 |
| Median | $36,470 | $17.53 |
| 75th percentile | $57,010 | $27.41 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,450 | $35.79 |
| Average (mean) | $41,200 | $19.81 |
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 | $3,039.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,519.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,402.69 |
| Weekly | $701.35 |
| Hourly | $17.53 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in cities in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $46,700 | 2,860 |
| Wilmington, NC | $37,890 | 1,460 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $37,700 | 280 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $37,390 | 5,660 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $37,110 | 1,180 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $36,120 | 3,070 |
| Asheville, NC | $35,380 | 1,240 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $34,920 | 1,020 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $34,880 | 500 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $34,550 | 1,310 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $33,800 | 140 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $31,860 | 530 |
| Burlington, NC | $31,170 | 260 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $31,000 | 240 |
| Greenville, NC | $30,190 | 300 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $27,740 | 130 |
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 North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,570 | $13.74 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,460 | $15.13 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,190 | $13.07 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,400 | $17.02 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,010 | $21.64 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,260 | $14.55 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,320 | $13.62 |
| Dishwasher | $30,340 | $14.59 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,560 | $13.25 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,140 | $17.38 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,130 | $29.39 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $30,160 | $14.50 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,290 | $15.04 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for bartenders in North Carolina is $36,470 a year, or $17.53 an hour. Pay ranges from $16,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of bartenders in North Carolina earn at least $74,450 a year. The top 25% earn $57,010 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $16,180 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $21,740 or less.
How many bartenders work in North Carolina?
About 20,070 bartenders are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.