Bartender salary in Rochester, MN
Bartenders in the Rochester, MN metro area earn a median of $27,000 a year ($12.98 an hour), based on BLS data for 940 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,280 for the top 10%. That is 21% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is about the same as the Minnesota statewide median of $26,900. There are 7.7 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $30,370, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Rochester, MN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,210 | $11.16 |
| 25th percentile | $23,830 | $11.46 |
| Median | $27,000 | $12.98 |
| 75th percentile | $31,470 | $15.13 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,280 | $18.89 |
| Average (mean) | $30,370 | $14.60 |
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 | $2,250 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,125 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,038.46 |
| Weekly | $519.23 |
| Hourly | $12.98 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $30,180 | 1,260 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $28,770 | 490 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $28,390 | 1,380 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $27,600 | 15,370 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $25,970 | 780 |
| Mankato, MN | $24,710 | 450 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $23,540 | 1,630 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $23,130 | 1,200 |
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 Minnesota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Rochester, MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,190 | $14.99 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $24,060 | $11.57 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,630 | $17.13 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,150 | $18.34 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,620 | $21.45 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,470 | $17.05 |
| Dishwasher | $32,790 | $15.76 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $43,160 | $20.75 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,120 | $14.00 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,270 | $13.59 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,090 | $15.91 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,520 | $30.06 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,320 | $14.58 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Rochester, MN
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 Rochester, MN?
The median salary for bartenders in the Rochester, MN metro area is $27,000 a year, or $12.98 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Rochester, MN?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Rochester, MN metro area earn at least $39,280 a year. The top 25% earn $31,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Rochester, MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,210 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $23,830 or less.
How many bartenders work in Rochester, MN?
About 940 bartenders are employed in the Rochester, MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.