Bartender salary in Rhode Island
Bartenders in Rhode Island earn a median of $36,410 a year ($17.51 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,170 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,320 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $34,340. Rhode Island ranks 19th of 51 states for bartenders pay. There are 6.3 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $46,090, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Rhode Island
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $36,410 | $17.51 |
| 75th percentile | $57,210 | $27.51 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,320 | $36.69 |
| Average (mean) | $46,090 | $22.16 |
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 | $3,034.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,517.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,400.38 |
| Weekly | $700.19 |
| Hourly | $17.51 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in cities in Rhode Island
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $35,680 | 4,510 |
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 Rhode Island
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,490 | $15.14 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,420 | $17.03 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,860 | $16.76 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,510 | $17.55 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,400 | $23.27 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,470 | $17.06 |
| Dishwasher | $33,960 | $16.33 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $35,230 | $16.94 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,570 | $22.39 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $79,930 | $38.43 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $46,250 | $22.24 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,400 | $15.10 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island?
The median salary for bartenders in Rhode Island is $36,410 a year, or $17.51 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,320 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Rhode Island?
The top 10% of bartenders in Rhode Island earn at least $76,320 a year. The top 25% earn $57,210 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Rhode Island?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $31,200 or less.
How many bartenders work in Rhode Island?
About 3,170 bartenders are employed in Rhode Island, not counting the self-employed.