Bartender salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Bartenders in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $31,200 a year ($15.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,340 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,180 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 4% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $30,090. There are 6.2 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $38,700, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| 25th percentile | $29,120 | $14.00 |
| Median | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 75th percentile | $37,210 | $17.89 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,180 | $28.45 |
| Average (mean) | $38,700 | $18.61 |
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 | $2,600 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,300 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,200 |
| Weekly | $600 |
| Hourly | $15.00 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IL | $31,200 | 580 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $31,200 | 1,070 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $31,200 | 28,750 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 1,470 |
| Decatur, IL | $31,200 | 320 |
| Kankakee, IL | $31,200 | 290 |
| Peoria, IL | $31,200 | 1,330 |
| Rockford, IL | $31,200 | 1,220 |
| Springfield, IL | $31,200 | 870 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $30,300 | 4,890 |
| Springfield, MO | $29,120 | 950 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $29,000 | 210 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $28,630 | 250 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $28,600 | 280 |
| Columbia, MO | $28,600 | 680 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $28,600 | 310 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $26,350 | 180 |
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. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,260 | $15.03 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,340 | $16.51 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,860 | $14.84 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,520 | $18.52 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,930 | $15.35 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,400 | $15.58 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,200 | $17.40 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dishwasher | $32,180 | $15.47 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,480 | $31.00 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,490 | $18.50 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $28,600 | $13.75 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in St. Louis, MO-IL
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. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for bartenders in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $31,200 a year, or $15.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of bartenders in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $59,180 a year. The top 25% earn $37,210 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,600 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $29,120 or less.
How many bartenders work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 8,340 bartenders are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.