Bartender salary in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Bartenders in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median of $37,760 a year ($18.15 an hour), based on BLS data for 14,840 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,890 for the top 10%. That is 10% higher than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 1% higher than the Massachusetts statewide median of $37,440. There are 5.5 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $46,040, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,010 | $15.39 |
| 25th percentile | $34,470 | $16.57 |
| Median | $37,760 | $18.15 |
| 75th percentile | $50,400 | $24.23 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,890 | $35.52 |
| Average (mean) | $46,040 | $22.13 |
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 | $3,146.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,573.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,452.31 |
| Weekly | $726.15 |
| Hourly | $18.15 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $37,760 salary, see how much house you can afford in Massachusetts 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town, MA | $43,530 | 890 |
| Worcester, MA | $35,950 | 1,830 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $35,680 | 4,510 |
| Springfield, MA | $35,610 | 1,000 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $35,390 | 450 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $35,300 | 480 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $29,050 | 1,080 |
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 Massachusetts statewide figures.
Related jobs in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $36,290 | $17.45 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $39,270 | $18.88 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $45,830 | $22.03 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $47,090 | $22.64 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $35,140 | $16.89 |
| Dishwasher | $37,750 | $18.15 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,660 | $19.07 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,780 | $16.72 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $48,530 | $23.33 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $39,600 | $19.04 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $72,470 | $34.84 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $38,210 | $18.37 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $41,600 | $20.00 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The median salary for bartenders in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $37,760 a year, or $18.15 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,890 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn at least $73,890 a year. The top 25% earn $50,400 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,010 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $34,470 or less.
How many bartenders work in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
About 14,840 bartenders are employed in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, not counting the self-employed.