Bartender salary in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
Bartenders in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area earn a median of $32,220 a year ($15.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,980 workers.
Pay ranges from $18,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,370 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 13% higher than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $28,420. There are 5.2 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $38,910, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,190 | $8.75 |
| 25th percentile | $22,380 | $10.76 |
| Median | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| 75th percentile | $48,150 | $23.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,370 | $31.91 |
| Average (mean) | $38,910 | $18.71 |
Half of bartenders earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,685 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,342.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,239.23 |
| Weekly | $619.62 |
| Hourly | $15.49 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $32,220 salary, see how much house you can afford in Pennsylvania at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Bartender salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $61,220 | 38,510 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $39,300 | 1,890 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $38,800 | 580 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $36,040 | 14,210 |
| Vineland, NJ | $35,590 | 120 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $29,750 | 8,370 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $28,810 | 960 |
| Lancaster, PA | $28,280 | 1,390 |
| Reading, PA | $28,260 | 1,100 |
| State College, PA | $28,100 | 570 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $28,010 | 1,530 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $27,520 | 1,860 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $26,400 | 290 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $26,390 | 360 |
| Lebanon, PA | $26,090 | 380 |
| Williamsport, PA | $25,910 | 420 |
| Erie, PA | $22,730 | 1,130 |
| Altoona, PA | $22,460 | 380 |
| Johnstown, PA | $21,930 | 650 |
Highest-paying states for bartenders
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $76,490 |
| New York | $61,210 |
| Washington | $55,830 |
| District of Columbia | $53,920 |
| Maine | $48,920 |
| Virginia | $47,070 |
| Vermont | $45,450 |
| Arizona | $45,070 |
| New Jersey | $44,020 |
| Oregon | $38,900 |
See Bartender pay in every state or the Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,090 | $13.98 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $34,630 | $16.65 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,370 | $16.53 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,120 | $17.85 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,780 | $21.05 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,570 | $18.54 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,430 | $16.07 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,640 | $14.73 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,270 | $15.04 |
| Dishwasher | $30,690 | $14.75 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,220 | $30.39 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,760 | $13.83 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,940 | $15.36 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,360 | $17.48 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
The median salary for bartenders in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area is $32,220 a year, or $15.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $18,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,370 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area earn at least $66,370 a year. The top 25% earn $48,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $18,190 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $22,380 or less.
How many bartenders work in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
About 1,980 bartenders are employed in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area, not counting the self-employed.