Bartender salary in Rocky Mount, NC
Bartenders in the Rocky Mount, NC metro area earn a median of $33,800 a year ($16.25 an hour), based on BLS data for 140 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,030 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 7% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $36,470. There are 2.5 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.52). The average (mean) salary is $39,290, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Rocky Mount, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| 25th percentile | $20,010 | $9.62 |
| Median | $33,800 | $16.25 |
| 75th percentile | $50,940 | $24.49 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,030 | $36.55 |
| Average (mean) | $39,290 | $18.89 |
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 | $2,816.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,408.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,300 |
| Weekly | $650 |
| Hourly | $16.25 |
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 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $36,120 | 3,070 |
| 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 |
| 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 Rocky Mount, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,850 | $12.91 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $26,900 | $12.93 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $28,760 | $13.83 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,710 | $11.40 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,070 | $13.98 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,760 | $19.11 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $28,850 | $13.87 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $33,560 | $16.14 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $25,990 | $12.49 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,820 | $12.89 |
| Dishwasher | $27,540 | $13.24 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $57,920 | $27.85 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $28,620 | $13.76 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Rocky Mount, 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 Rocky Mount, NC?
The median salary for bartenders in the Rocky Mount, NC metro area is $33,800 a year, or $16.25 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,030 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Rocky Mount, NC?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Rocky Mount, NC metro area earn at least $76,030 a year. The top 25% earn $50,940 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Rocky Mount, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,080 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $20,010 or less.
How many bartenders work in Rocky Mount, NC?
About 140 bartenders are employed in the Rocky Mount, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.