Bartenders Salary in California
Bartenders in California earn a median annual wage of $36,220 —5.5% above the national median of $34,340. That ranks CA #20 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.
Wage distribution
How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
Employment is only 0.81× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in California.
Highest-paying states for bartenders
All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $76,490 | $36.78 | 3,540 | 1.16 |
| 2 | New York | $61,210 | $29.43 | 43,130 | 0.92 |
| 3 | Washington | $55,830 | $26.84 | 16,800 | 0.97 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $53,920 | $25.92 | 5,760 | 1.69 |
| 5 | Maine | $48,920 | $23.52 | 3,230 | 1.04 |
| 6 | Virginia | $47,070 | $22.63 | 13,370 | 0.67 |
| 7 | Vermont | $45,450 | $21.85 | 2,080 | 1.40 |
| 8 | Arizona | $45,070 | $21.67 | 14,840 | 0.94 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $44,020 | $21.16 | 16,260 | 0.78 |
| 10 | Oregon | $38,900 | $18.70 | 11,950 | 1.25 |
Related occupations in California
Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.
| Occupation | California median | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $42,280 | $31,200 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,080 | $35,230 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $44,880 | $37,390 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,980 | $44,080 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $39,350 | $35,320 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $42,050 | $30,890 |
Frequently asked questions
How much do bartenders make in California?
The median annual wage for bartenders in California is $36,220, or $17.41 per hour. That is 5.5% above the national median of $34,340.
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in California?
Workers at the 10th percentile earn $34,320 per year ($16.50/hour). The 25th percentile is $34,660.
How many people work as bartenders in California?
About 71,470 people work in this occupation in California, or 3.9 per 1,000 jobs statewide.
Is California a good state for bartenders?
California ranks #20 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.81x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in California.
Which state pays bartenders the most?
Hawaii has the highest median wage at $76,490 per year, followed by New York ($61,210) and Washington ($55,830).