Bartenders Salary in Merced, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Merced, CA

Median annual salary $33,390 -0.4% vs national
Median hourly $16.05
10th percentile $33,280
90th percentile $62,970
Employed locally 160
National median $33,530

Compare Bartenders salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Merced, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Bartenders
in
Merced, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $33,280
    25th
    $33,280
    50th (median)
    $33,390
    75th
    $35,740
    90th
    $62,970

    Merced economic context

    Unemployment rate 9.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $65,044 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
    Ithaca, NY $49,940
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $39,650
    Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area $39,410
    Utica-Rome, NY $38,630
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $38,620
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $38,430

    Related occupations in Merced, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $36,440
    Cooks, Fast Food $35,960
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $45,280
    Waiters and Waitresses $33,420
    Cooks, Restaurant $37,740
    Food Preparation Workers $35,140

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Bartenders make per hour in Merced?

    The median hourly wage for Bartenders in Merced, CA is $16.05, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $31.19 or more per hour.

    Is Merced above or below average for Bartenders salaries?

    The median Bartenders salary in Merced, CA is 0.4% 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 Merced?

    Entry-level Bartenders (10th percentile) earn around $33,280 per year in Merced, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $33,280.