Bartender salary in Paducah, KY-IL
Bartenders in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area earn a median of $26,350 a year ($12.67 an hour), based on BLS data for 180 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,030 for the top 10%. That is 23% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 8% lower than the Kentucky statewide median of $28,780. There are 3.6 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $29,450, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Paducah, KY-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| 25th percentile | $16,410 | $7.89 |
| Median | $26,350 | $12.67 |
| 75th percentile | $33,530 | $16.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,030 | $27.42 |
| Average (mean) | $29,450 | $14.16 |
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 | $2,195.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,097.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,013.46 |
| Weekly | $506.73 |
| Hourly | $12.67 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $34,240 | 5,870 |
| Bloomington, IL | $31,200 | 580 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $31,200 | 1,070 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $31,200 | 28,750 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 1,470 |
| Decatur, IL | $31,200 | 320 |
| Kankakee, IL | $31,200 | 290 |
| Peoria, IL | $31,200 | 1,330 |
| Rockford, IL | $31,200 | 1,220 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $31,200 | 8,340 |
| Springfield, IL | $31,200 | 870 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $30,640 | 1,340 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $29,280 | 570 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $29,120 | 2,830 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $28,600 | 280 |
| Owensboro, KY | $26,810 | 160 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $26,800 | 270 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $26,620 | 130 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $24,230 | 290 |
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 |
See Bartender pay in every state or the Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Paducah, KY-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,640 | $13.29 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,280 | $14.08 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $35,210 | $16.93 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,210 | $13.08 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,310 | $16.98 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,440 | $12.71 |
| Dishwasher | $29,520 | $14.19 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,030 | $13.00 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $44,720 | $21.50 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Paducah, KY-IL
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 Paducah, KY-IL?
The median salary for bartenders in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area is $26,350 a year, or $12.67 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,030 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Paducah, KY-IL?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area earn at least $57,030 a year. The top 25% earn $33,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Paducah, KY-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,080 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $16,410 or less.
How many bartenders work in Paducah, KY-IL?
About 180 bartenders are employed in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.