Bartender salary in Washington
Bartenders in Washington earn a median of $55,830 a year ($26.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 16,800 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,130 for the top 10%. That is 63% higher than the national median of $34,340. Washington ranks 3rd of 51 states for bartenders pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 4.7 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $60,010, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,380 | $18.93 |
| 25th percentile | $47,930 | $23.04 |
| Median | $55,830 | $26.84 |
| 75th percentile | $62,900 | $30.24 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $90,130 | $43.33 |
| Average (mean) | $60,010 | $28.85 |
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 | $4,652.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,326.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,147.31 |
| Weekly | $1,073.65 |
| Hourly | $26.84 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in cities in Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $58,180 | 9,640 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $56,640 | 270 |
| Bellingham, WA | $56,110 | 600 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $55,820 | 600 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $54,030 | 120 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $53,810 | 560 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $50,210 | 1,100 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $50,180 | 530 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $49,930 | 210 |
| Yakima, WA | $49,700 | 350 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $48,220 | 390 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $45,590 | 6,980 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $29,290 | 130 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $37,710 | $18.13 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $56,130 | $26.98 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $38,870 | $18.69 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $46,800 | $22.50 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $59,400 | $28.56 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $40,910 | $19.67 |
| Dishwasher | $40,080 | $19.27 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $49,670 | $23.88 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $37,270 | $17.92 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $39,120 | $18.81 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $41,420 | $19.91 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $76,010 | $36.54 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,760 | $20.56 |
| Cooks, All Other | $52,510 | $25.25 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for bartenders in Washington is $55,830 a year, or $26.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Washington?
The top 10% of bartenders in Washington earn at least $90,130 a year. The top 25% earn $62,900 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,380 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $47,930 or less.
How many bartenders work in Washington?
About 16,800 bartenders are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.