Bartender salary in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Bartenders in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median of $37,390 a year ($17.97 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,660 workers.
Pay ranges from $17,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,780 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 3% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $36,470. There are 4.2 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $43,270, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,300 | $8.32 |
| 25th percentile | $22,630 | $10.88 |
| Median | $37,390 | $17.97 |
| 75th percentile | $60,250 | $28.96 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,780 | $37.87 |
| Average (mean) | $43,270 | $20.81 |
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 | $3,115.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,557.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,438.08 |
| Weekly | $719.04 |
| Hourly | $17.97 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $37,390 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $46,700 | 2,860 |
| Wilmington, NC | $37,890 | 1,460 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $37,700 | 280 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $37,110 | 1,180 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $36,120 | 3,070 |
| Asheville, NC | $35,380 | 1,240 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $34,920 | 1,020 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $34,880 | 500 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $34,550 | 1,310 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $33,800 | 140 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $31,860 | 530 |
| Burlington, NC | $31,170 | 260 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $31,000 | 240 |
| Greenville, NC | $30,190 | 300 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $27,740 | 130 |
| Florence, SC | $22,990 | 240 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $21,100 | 730 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $20,090 | 440 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $20,030 | 660 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $19,630 | 3,110 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $19,600 | 1,640 |
| Columbia, SC | $19,230 | 1,070 |
| Sumter, SC | $18,040 | 100 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $17,420 | 1,800 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,880 | $13.88 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,430 | $17.51 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,550 | $16.13 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,690 | $13.31 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,030 | $17.80 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $47,280 | $22.73 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,180 | $16.43 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,550 | $14.21 |
| Dishwasher | $31,920 | $15.35 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,470 | $14.17 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $31,440 | $15.12 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,260 | $30.90 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,600 | $16.64 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The median salary for bartenders in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $37,390 a year, or $17.97 an hour. Pay ranges from $17,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,780 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn at least $78,780 a year. The top 25% earn $60,250 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $17,300 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $22,630 or less.
How many bartenders work in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
About 5,660 bartenders are employed in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.