Bartender salary in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC
Bartenders in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metro area earn a median of $20,030 a year ($9.63 an hour), based on BLS data for 660 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,620 for the top 10%. That is 42% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 3% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $19,370. There are 8.0 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $28,920, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,690 | $7.54 |
| 25th percentile | $18,120 | $8.71 |
| Median | $20,030 | $9.63 |
| 75th percentile | $32,380 | $15.57 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,620 | $28.18 |
| Average (mean) | $28,920 | $13.90 |
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 | $1,669.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $834.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $770.38 |
| Weekly | $385.19 |
| Hourly | $9.63 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $37,390 | 5,660 |
| Florence, SC | $22,990 | 240 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $21,100 | 730 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $20,090 | 440 |
| 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 South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $19,830 | $9.53 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,550 | $14.21 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,480 | $16.58 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,820 | $17.70 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,450 | $21.85 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,920 | $17.75 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,340 | $14.10 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,590 | $14.23 |
| Dishwasher | $33,040 | $15.89 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,290 | $13.60 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,920 | $18.71 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $73,690 | $35.43 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, 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 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?
The median salary for bartenders in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metro area is $20,030 a year, or $9.63 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,620 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metro area earn at least $58,620 a year. The top 25% earn $32,380 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,690 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $18,120 or less.
How many bartenders work in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?
About 660 bartenders are employed in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.