Bartender salary in Santa Fe, NM
Bartenders in the Santa Fe, NM metro area earn a median of $44,250 a year ($21.27 an hour), based on BLS data for 530 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,640 for the top 10%. That is 29% higher than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 20% higher than the New Mexico statewide median of $36,980. There are 8.6 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $45,130, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Santa Fe, NM
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,590 | $13.27 |
| 25th percentile | $28,460 | $13.68 |
| Median | $44,250 | $21.27 |
| 75th percentile | $55,490 | $26.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,640 | $31.56 |
| Average (mean) | $45,130 | $21.70 |
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 | $3,687.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,843.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,701.92 |
| Weekly | $850.96 |
| Hourly | $21.27 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | $37,400 | 1,960 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $34,470 | 270 |
| Farmington, NM | $31,030 | 120 |
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 Mexico statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Fe, NM
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $30,810 | $14.81 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $46,640 | $22.42 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,250 | $17.91 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $47,290 | $22.74 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,120 | $17.36 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $32,260 | $15.51 |
| Dishwasher | $33,750 | $16.23 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,360 | $14.60 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $39,370 | $18.93 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $38,000 | $18.27 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,820 | $18.18 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $72,020 | $34.62 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Santa Fe, NM
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 Santa Fe, NM?
The median salary for bartenders in the Santa Fe, NM metro area is $44,250 a year, or $21.27 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,640 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Santa Fe, NM?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Santa Fe, NM metro area earn at least $65,640 a year. The top 25% earn $55,490 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Santa Fe, NM?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,590 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $28,460 or less.
How many bartenders work in Santa Fe, NM?
About 530 bartenders are employed in the Santa Fe, NM metro area, not counting the self-employed.