Bartenders Salary in Asheville, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Asheville, NC

Median annual salary $35,130 +4.8% vs national
Median hourly $16.89
10th percentile $16,220
90th percentile $74,570
Employed locally 1,460
National median $33,530

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Bartenders
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Asheville, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $16,220
    25th
    $18,810
    50th (median)
    $35,130
    75th
    $47,620
    90th
    $74,570

    Asheville economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $69,236 2023 • Census ACS
    Bartenders salary vs area income 51% Median Bartenders salary is 49% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Bartenders

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $80,040
    Urban Honolulu, HI $70,300
    Hawaii $68,820
    Burlington-South Burlington, VT $65,480
    New York $60,750
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $59,390

    Nearby metros — Bartenders salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $45,220
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $44,740
    Winchester, VA-WV $41,100
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $38,430
    Lynchburg, VA $37,940
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $36,240

    Related occupations in Asheville, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $29,240
    Waiters and Waitresses $29,820
    Cooks, Fast Food $27,340
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,200
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $45,470
    Food Preparation Workers $33,190

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Bartenders make per hour in Asheville?

    The median hourly wage for Bartenders in Asheville, NC is $16.89, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $36.68 or more per hour.

    Is Asheville above or below average for Bartenders salaries?

    The median Bartenders salary in Asheville, NC is 4.8% above the national median of $33,530. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Bartenders in Asheville?

    Entry-level Bartenders (10th percentile) earn around $16,220 per year in Asheville, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $18,810.