Bartenders Salary Trend (2011–2024)
Historical salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Median Salary in 2024
$33,530
↑ 77.9% since 2011
Median Salary Over Time
Bartenders — Median Annual Salary
Employment Over Time
Bartenders — Total Employment
Key Insights
📈Salaries grew 77.9% since 2011 ($18,850 → $33,530)
🏆Peak year: 2024 at $33,530
🦠COVID impact: Salary rose 5.4% from 2019 to 2020, likely reflecting workforce composition changes.
💰After inflation (~3%/yr), real growth is approximately +21%
Year-by-Year Salary Data
| Year | Median Salary | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $33,530 | +6.4% |
| 2023 | $31,510 | +7.2% |
| 2022 | $29,380 | +11.5% |
| 2021 | $26,350 | +5.6% |
| 2020 | $24,960 | +5.4% |
| 2019 | $23,680 | +5.0% |
| 2018 | $22,550 | +4.0% |
| 2017 | $21,690 | +4.3% |
| 2016 | $20,800 | +6.5% |
| 2015 | $19,530 | +2.5% |
| 2014 | $19,050 | +0.7% |
| 2013 | $18,920 | +0.1% |
| 2012 | $18,900 | +0.3% |
| 2011 | $18,850 | — |
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2011–2024. All figures are annual median wages in nominal dollars.