Bartenders Salary in Hickory, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Median annual salary $28,040 -16.4% vs national
Median hourly $13.48
10th percentile $15,260
90th percentile $58,800
Employed locally 550
National median $33,530

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Bartenders
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $15,260
    25th
    $17,200
    50th (median)
    $28,040
    75th
    $44,980
    90th
    $58,800

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Bartenders salary vs area income 47% Median Bartenders salary is 53% 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 Hickory, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Cooks, Fast Food $24,180
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,400
    Waiters and Waitresses $26,580
    Cooks, Restaurant $34,340
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,760
    Food Preparation Workers $27,790

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Bartenders make per hour in Hickory?

    The median hourly wage for Bartenders in Hickory, NC is $13.48, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $30.08 or more per hour.

    Is Hickory above or below average for Bartenders salaries?

    The median Bartenders salary in Hickory, NC is 16.4% 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 Hickory?

    Entry-level Bartenders (10th percentile) earn around $15,260 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $17,200.