Bartender salary in Tennessee
Bartenders in Tennessee earn a median of $27,480 a year ($13.21 an hour), based on BLS data for 10,330 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,740 for the top 10%. That is 20% lower than the national median of $34,340. Tennessee ranks 37th of 51 states for bartenders pay. There are 3.2 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.65). The average (mean) salary is $31,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,970 | $7.68 |
| 25th percentile | $18,160 | $8.73 |
| Median | $27,480 | $13.21 |
| 75th percentile | $38,930 | $18.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $52,740 | $25.36 |
| Average (mean) | $31,180 | $14.99 |
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 | $2,290 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,145 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,056.92 |
| Weekly | $528.46 |
| Hourly | $13.21 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in cities in Tennessee
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $31,240 | 280 |
| Knoxville, TN | $28,860 | 1,400 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $28,710 | 1,380 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $28,190 | 4,540 |
| Cleveland, TN | $25,710 | 110 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $25,650 | 890 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $24,230 | 290 |
| Morristown, TN | $23,730 | 70 |
| Jackson, TN | $22,030 | 180 |
| Johnson City, TN | $21,700 | 270 |
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 |
Related jobs in Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,470 | $13.21 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $27,760 | $13.35 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,670 | $14.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $40,500 | $19.47 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,420 | $17.51 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $28,700 | $13.80 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,330 | $13.62 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,470 | $14.17 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,490 | $13.22 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,570 | $17.10 |
| Dishwasher | $30,530 | $14.68 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $69,810 | $33.56 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,640 | $17.61 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,210 | $14.52 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Tennessee
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 Tennessee?
The median salary for bartenders in Tennessee is $27,480 a year, or $13.21 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,740 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Tennessee?
The top 10% of bartenders in Tennessee earn at least $52,740 a year. The top 25% earn $38,930 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Tennessee?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,970 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $18,160 or less.
How many bartenders work in Tennessee?
About 10,330 bartenders are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.