Bartender salary in Reading, PA
Bartenders in the Reading, PA metro area earn a median of $28,260 a year ($13.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,100 workers.
Pay ranges from $17,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,280 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 1% lower than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $28,420. There are 6.3 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $35,110, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Reading, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,890 | $8.60 |
| 25th percentile | $21,340 | $10.26 |
| Median | $28,260 | $13.59 |
| 75th percentile | $45,610 | $21.93 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,280 | $29.94 |
| Average (mean) | $35,110 | $16.88 |
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 | $2,355 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,177.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,086.92 |
| Weekly | $543.46 |
| Hourly | $13.59 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $36,040 | 14,210 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $32,220 | 1,980 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $29,750 | 8,370 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $28,810 | 960 |
| Lancaster, PA | $28,280 | 1,390 |
| State College, PA | $28,100 | 570 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $28,010 | 1,530 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $27,520 | 1,860 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $26,400 | 290 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $26,390 | 360 |
| Lebanon, PA | $26,090 | 380 |
| Williamsport, PA | $25,910 | 420 |
| Erie, PA | $22,730 | 1,130 |
| Altoona, PA | $22,460 | 380 |
| Johnstown, PA | $21,930 | 650 |
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 Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Reading, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,090 | $13.51 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,760 | $14.79 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,810 | $14.81 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,020 | $17.32 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,800 | $19.14 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,590 | $17.59 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,580 | $15.18 |
| Dishwasher | $27,650 | $13.30 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,190 | $13.55 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,330 | $13.14 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,980 | $32.20 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $28,910 | $13.90 |
| Cooks, All Other | $35,020 | $16.84 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Reading, PA
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 Reading, PA?
The median salary for bartenders in the Reading, PA metro area is $28,260 a year, or $13.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $17,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Reading, PA?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Reading, PA metro area earn at least $62,280 a year. The top 25% earn $45,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Reading, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $17,890 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $21,340 or less.
How many bartenders work in Reading, PA?
About 1,100 bartenders are employed in the Reading, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.