Bartenders Salary in Des Moines, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Median annual salary $23,430 -30.1% vs national
Median hourly $11.26
10th percentile $17,530
90th percentile $45,020
Employed locally 2,020
National median $33,530

Compare Bartenders salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Des Moines, IA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Bartenders
in
Des Moines, IA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $17,530
    25th
    $20,900
    50th (median)
    $23,430
    75th
    $30,060
    90th
    $45,020

    Des Moines economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $84,209 2023 • Census ACS
    Bartenders salary vs area income 28% Median Bartenders salary is 72% 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
    District of Columbia $54,930
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $50,070
    Virginia $46,860
    Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $46,020
    Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $45,220
    Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA $37,730

    Related occupations in Des Moines, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $29,010
    Waiters and Waitresses $28,840
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,430
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $40,480
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $35,360
    Cooks, Fast Food $29,680

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Bartenders make per hour in Des Moines?

    The median hourly wage for Bartenders in Des Moines, IA is $11.26, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.06 or more per hour.

    Is Des Moines above or below average for Bartenders salaries?

    The median Bartenders salary in Des Moines, IA is 30.1% below 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 Des Moines?

    Entry-level Bartenders (10th percentile) earn around $17,530 per year in Des Moines, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $20,900.