Bartender salary in Salem, OR
Bartenders in the Salem, OR metro area earn a median of $38,410 a year ($18.46 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,090 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,050 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 1% lower than the Oregon statewide median of $38,900. There are 5.8 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $45,310, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Salem, OR
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,130 | $14.97 |
| 25th percentile | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Median | $38,410 | $18.46 |
| 75th percentile | $55,950 | $26.90 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,050 | $31.28 |
| Average (mean) | $45,310 | $21.78 |
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 | $3,200.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,600.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,477.31 |
| Weekly | $738.65 |
| Hourly | $18.46 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $45,590 | 6,980 |
| Bend, OR | $42,670 | 890 |
| Corvallis, OR | $41,840 | 180 |
| Medford, OR | $40,190 | 480 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | $39,580 | 960 |
| Grants Pass, OR | $36,920 | 160 |
| Albany, OR | $34,790 | 250 |
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 Oregon statewide figures.
Related jobs in Salem, OR
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,520 | $16.60 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $48,720 | $23.42 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,720 | $16.69 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $39,170 | $18.83 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $37,300 | $17.93 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,690 | $21.49 |
| Dishwasher | $35,070 | $16.86 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,870 | $16.29 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,780 | $17.68 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,250 | $16.95 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,750 | $30.65 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,910 | $16.78 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $49,900 | $23.99 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Salem, OR
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 Salem, OR?
The median salary for bartenders in the Salem, OR metro area is $38,410 a year, or $18.46 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,050 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Salem, OR?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Salem, OR metro area earn at least $65,050 a year. The top 25% earn $55,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Salem, OR?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,130 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $32,150 or less.
How many bartenders work in Salem, OR?
About 1,090 bartenders are employed in the Salem, OR metro area, not counting the self-employed.