Bartender salary in State College, PA
Bartenders in the State College, PA metro area earn a median of $28,100 a year ($13.51 an hour), based on BLS data for 570 workers.
Pay ranges from $17,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,280 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 1% lower than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $28,420. There are 8.2 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $34,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in State College, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,260 | $8.30 |
| 25th percentile | $21,530 | $10.35 |
| Median | $28,100 | $13.51 |
| 75th percentile | $44,720 | $21.50 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,280 | $29.94 |
| Average (mean) | $34,830 | $16.74 |
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 | $2,341.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,170.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,080.77 |
| Weekly | $540.38 |
| Hourly | $13.51 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $36,040 | 14,210 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $32,220 | 1,980 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $29,750 | 8,370 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $28,810 | 960 |
| Lancaster, PA | $28,280 | 1,390 |
| Reading, PA | $28,260 | 1,100 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $28,010 | 1,530 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $27,520 | 1,860 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $26,400 | 290 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $26,390 | 360 |
| Lebanon, PA | $26,090 | 380 |
| Williamsport, PA | $25,910 | 420 |
| Erie, PA | $22,730 | 1,130 |
| Altoona, PA | $22,460 | 380 |
| Johnstown, PA | $21,930 | 650 |
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 Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in State College, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,790 | $13.36 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,280 | $16.96 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,540 | $16.12 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,990 | $17.30 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $42,500 | $20.44 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,720 | $13.81 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,920 | $13.42 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,100 | $17.84 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,210 | $15.01 |
| Dishwasher | $28,950 | $13.92 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,020 | $13.95 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $58,560 | $28.15 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in State College, PA
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 State College, PA?
The median salary for bartenders in the State College, PA metro area is $28,100 a year, or $13.51 an hour. Pay ranges from $17,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in State College, PA?
The top 10% of bartenders in the State College, PA metro area earn at least $62,280 a year. The top 25% earn $44,720 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in State College, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $17,260 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $21,530 or less.
How many bartenders work in State College, PA?
About 570 bartenders are employed in the State College, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.