Bartender salary in Tucson, AZ
Bartenders in the Tucson, AZ metro area earn a median of $36,450 a year ($17.52 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,840 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,590 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 19% lower than the Arizona statewide median of $45,070. There are 4.7 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $49,610, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Tucson, AZ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,580 | $14.70 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $36,450 | $17.52 |
| 75th percentile | $61,600 | $29.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,590 | $39.23 |
| Average (mean) | $49,610 | $23.85 |
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 | $3,037.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,518.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,401.92 |
| Weekly | $700.96 |
| Hourly | $17.52 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $46,940 | 10,580 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $42,340 | 460 |
| Yuma, AZ | $42,210 | 310 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $36,270 | 550 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $35,960 | 380 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $35,790 | 190 |
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 Arizona statewide figures.
Related jobs in Tucson, AZ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,690 | $15.24 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,490 | $17.54 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $32,010 | $15.39 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,500 | $18.03 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,200 | $18.36 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,260 | $16.95 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,990 | $16.82 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,830 | $14.82 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $33,560 | $16.14 |
| Dishwasher | $33,490 | $16.10 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,620 | $18.09 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $49,990 | $24.04 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,090 | $17.35 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Tucson, AZ
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 Tucson, AZ?
The median salary for bartenders in the Tucson, AZ metro area is $36,450 a year, or $17.52 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Tucson, AZ?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Tucson, AZ metro area earn at least $81,590 a year. The top 25% earn $61,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Tucson, AZ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,580 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $31,200 or less.
How many bartenders work in Tucson, AZ?
About 1,840 bartenders are employed in the Tucson, AZ metro area, not counting the self-employed.