Bartender salary in Raleigh-Cary, NC
Bartenders in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median of $36,120 a year ($17.37 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,070 workers.
Pay ranges from $16,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,880 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 1% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $36,470. There are 4.1 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $41,500, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,290 | $7.83 |
| 25th percentile | $22,310 | $10.73 |
| Median | $36,120 | $17.37 |
| 75th percentile | $59,460 | $28.59 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,880 | $35.52 |
| Average (mean) | $41,500 | $19.95 |
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 | $3,010 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,505 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,389.23 |
| Weekly | $694.62 |
| Hourly | $17.37 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Bartender pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,080 | $13.98 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $34,860 | $16.76 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $32,470 | $15.61 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,220 | $13.57 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,020 | $22.12 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,470 | $14.17 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,150 | $14.01 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $24,960 | $12.00 |
| Dishwasher | $31,300 | $15.05 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,460 | $18.01 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,190 | $29.42 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $29,890 | $14.37 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,200 | $15.00 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Raleigh-Cary, NC
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 Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The median salary for bartenders in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $36,120 a year, or $17.37 an hour. Pay ranges from $16,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn at least $73,880 a year. The top 25% earn $59,460 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $16,290 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $22,310 or less.
How many bartenders work in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
About 3,070 bartenders are employed in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.