Bartenders Salary in Raleigh, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Raleigh-Cary, NC

Median annual salary $34,290 +2.3% vs national
Median hourly $16.48
10th percentile $16,360
90th percentile $75,210
Employed locally 2,750
National median $33,530

Compare Bartenders salary & buying power

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

Full tool →
Bartenders
in
Raleigh, NC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $16,360
    25th
    $18,520
    50th (median)
    $34,290
    75th
    $56,390
    90th
    $75,210

    Raleigh economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $96,066 2023 • Census ACS
    Bartenders salary vs area income 36% Median Bartenders salary is 64% 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 Raleigh, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $29,970
    Waiters and Waitresses $29,450
    Cooks, Fast Food $27,440
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,010
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $45,300
    Food Preparation Workers $27,890

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Bartenders make per hour in Raleigh?

    The median hourly wage for Bartenders in Raleigh, NC is $16.48, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $35.52 or more per hour.

    Is Raleigh above or below average for Bartenders salaries?

    The median Bartenders salary in Raleigh, NC is 2.3% 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 Raleigh?

    Entry-level Bartenders (10th percentile) earn around $16,360 per year in Raleigh, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $18,520.