Bartender salary in St. Joseph, MO-KS
Bartenders in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area earn a median of $29,000 a year ($13.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 210 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,000 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 4% lower than the Missouri statewide median of $30,090. There are 3.9 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $36,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in St. Joseph, MO-KS
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| 25th percentile | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Median | $29,000 | $13.94 |
| 75th percentile | $39,370 | $18.93 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,000 | $25.48 |
| Average (mean) | $36,850 | $17.71 |
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 | $2,416.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,208.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,115.38 |
| Weekly | $557.69 |
| Hourly | $13.94 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $31,200 | 8,340 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $30,300 | 4,890 |
| Lawrence, KS | $29,980 | 470 |
| Springfield, MO | $29,120 | 950 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $28,630 | 250 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $28,600 | 280 |
| Columbia, MO | $28,600 | 680 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $28,600 | 310 |
| Wichita, KS | $28,540 | 1,300 |
| Topeka, KS | $27,860 | 470 |
| Manhattan, KS | $27,160 | 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 Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Joseph, MO-KS
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,430 | $14.15 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,490 | $14.66 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,210 | $14.52 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,620 | $14.24 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $28,960 | $13.92 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,900 | $17.74 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,560 | $17.09 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $34,070 | $16.38 |
| Dishwasher | $30,550 | $14.69 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,460 | $14.16 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,600 | $13.75 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in St. Joseph, MO-KS
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 St. Joseph, MO-KS?
The median salary for bartenders in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area is $29,000 a year, or $13.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in St. Joseph, MO-KS?
The top 10% of bartenders in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area earn at least $53,000 a year. The top 25% earn $39,370 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in St. Joseph, MO-KS?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,600 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $28,600 or less.
How many bartenders work in St. Joseph, MO-KS?
About 210 bartenders are employed in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area, not counting the self-employed.