Bartender salary in Wheeling, WV-OH
Bartenders in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area earn a median of $28,530 a year ($13.71 an hour), based on BLS data for 370 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,230 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 4% lower than the West Virginia statewide median of $29,630. There are 6.3 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $34,520, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Wheeling, WV-OH
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,100 | $10.14 |
| 25th percentile | $22,670 | $10.90 |
| Median | $28,530 | $13.71 |
| 75th percentile | $38,780 | $18.65 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,230 | $28.48 |
| Average (mean) | $34,520 | $16.60 |
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 | $2,377.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,188.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,097.31 |
| Weekly | $548.65 |
| Hourly | $13.71 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $48,030 | 14,560 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $41,640 | 240 |
| Columbus, OH | $37,000 | 5,030 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $34,240 | 5,870 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $33,620 | 670 |
| Cleveland, OH | $33,470 | 5,750 |
| Akron, OH | $31,120 | 1,530 |
| Charleston, WV | $30,900 | 350 |
| Toledo, OH | $30,820 | 1,480 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $30,450 | 810 |
| Morgantown, WV | $30,310 | 420 |
| Lima, OH | $30,270 | 220 |
| Sandusky, OH | $30,130 | 710 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $30,010 | 240 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $29,830 | 1,680 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $29,520 | 850 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $29,280 | 570 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $29,100 | 190 |
| Beckley, WV | $29,060 | 170 |
| Mansfield, OH | $28,640 | 270 |
| Springfield, OH | $28,440 | 160 |
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 West Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Wheeling, WV-OH
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,150 | $12.57 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,740 | $14.78 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $26,890 | $12.93 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,110 | $11.11 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $34,180 | $16.43 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,710 | $14.28 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $30,600 | $14.71 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,040 | $13.96 |
| Dishwasher | $26,180 | $12.59 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,080 | $12.54 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,700 | $12.84 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,590 | $13.27 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $54,400 | $26.16 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Wheeling, WV-OH
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 Wheeling, WV-OH?
The median salary for bartenders in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area is $28,530 a year, or $13.71 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,230 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Wheeling, WV-OH?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area earn at least $59,230 a year. The top 25% earn $38,780 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Wheeling, WV-OH?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,100 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $22,670 or less.
How many bartenders work in Wheeling, WV-OH?
About 370 bartenders are employed in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area, not counting the self-employed.