Bartender salary in Rochester, NY
Bartenders in the Rochester, NY metro area earn a median of $45,920 a year ($22.08 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,140 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,490 for the top 10%. That is 34% higher than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 25% lower than the New York statewide median of $61,210. There are 4.3 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $50,800, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Rochester, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,240 | $15.50 |
| 25th percentile | $33,690 | $16.20 |
| Median | $45,920 | $22.08 |
| 75th percentile | $60,430 | $29.05 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,490 | $37.26 |
| Average (mean) | $50,800 | $24.42 |
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 | $3,826.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,913.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,766.15 |
| Weekly | $883.08 |
| Hourly | $22.08 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $61,220 | 38,510 |
| Binghamton, NY | $47,950 | 640 |
| Kingston, NY | $47,760 | 450 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $47,370 | 1,970 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $46,920 | 2,890 |
| Syracuse, NY | $46,710 | 1,540 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $46,470 | 320 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $46,320 | 1,180 |
| Ithaca, NY | $44,040 | 280 |
| Elmira, NY | $41,110 | 170 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $38,860 | 760 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $36,170 | 260 |
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 New York statewide figures.
Related jobs in Rochester, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,430 | $16.07 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $45,310 | $21.78 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,780 | $17.20 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,040 | $20.69 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,380 | $18.45 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,020 | $16.84 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,310 | $16.98 |
| Dishwasher | $33,880 | $16.29 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,580 | $17.59 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $33,750 | $16.22 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,380 | $16.05 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,080 | $31.77 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Rochester, NY
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, NY?
The median salary for bartenders in the Rochester, NY metro area is $45,920 a year, or $22.08 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,490 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Rochester, NY?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Rochester, NY metro area earn at least $77,490 a year. The top 25% earn $60,430 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Rochester, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,240 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $33,690 or less.
How many bartenders work in Rochester, NY?
About 2,140 bartenders are employed in the Rochester, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.