Bartenders · Washington

Bartenders Salary in Washington

Bartenders in Washington earn a median annual wage of $55,830 —62.6% above the national median of $34,340. That ranks WA #3 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$55,830
Median hourly
$26.84
Entry level (P10)
$39,380
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$90,130
90th percentile
Employment
16,800
4.7 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+62.6%
U.S. $34,340

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$39,380
$47,930
$55,830
$62,900
$39,380$55,830$90,130
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $55,830.

Employment concentration (0.97×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for bartenders

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Washington is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Hawaii$76,490$36.783,5401.16
2New York$61,210$29.4343,1300.92
3Washington$55,830$26.8416,8000.97
4District of Columbia$53,920$25.925,7601.69
5Maine$48,920$23.523,2301.04
6Virginia$47,070$22.6313,3700.67
7Vermont$45,450$21.852,0801.40
8Arizona$45,070$21.6714,8400.94
9New Jersey$44,020$21.1616,2600.78
10Oregon$38,900$18.7011,9501.25

Related occupations in Washington

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Washington.

OccupationWashington medianU.S. median
Fast Food and Counter Workers$37,710$31,200
Waiters and Waitresses$56,130$35,230
Cooks, Restaurant$46,800$37,390
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$59,400$44,080
Food Preparation Workers$40,910$35,320
Cooks, Fast Food$39,120$30,890

Frequently asked questions

How much do bartenders make in Washington?

The median annual wage for bartenders in Washington is $55,830, or $26.84 per hour. That is 62.6% above the national median of $34,340.

What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Washington?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $39,380 per year ($18.93/hour). The 25th percentile is $47,930.

How many people work as bartenders in Washington?

About 16,800 people work in this occupation in Washington, or 4.7 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Washington a good state for bartenders?

Washington ranks #3 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (0.97x) is close to the national average.

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).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes