Bartender salary in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN
Bartenders in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area earn a median of $22,880 a year ($11.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,480 workers.
Pay ranges from $17,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,290 for the top 10%. That is 33% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is about the same as the Indiana statewide median of $22,770. There are 4.1 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $29,510, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,610 | $8.47 |
| 25th percentile | $21,210 | $10.20 |
| Median | $22,880 | $11.00 |
| 75th percentile | $36,170 | $17.39 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,290 | $22.74 |
| Average (mean) | $29,510 | $14.19 |
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 | $1,906.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $953.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $880 |
| Weekly | $440 |
| Hourly | $11.00 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $34,240 | 5,870 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $31,200 | 28,750 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $29,120 | 2,830 |
| Columbus, IN | $23,700 | 150 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $23,120 | 210 |
| Kokomo, IN | $23,060 | 180 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $23,010 | 850 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $23,000 | 580 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $22,680 | 460 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $22,430 | 250 |
| Bloomington, IN | $22,370 | 440 |
| Evansville, IN | $22,360 | 590 |
| Muncie, IN | $21,780 | 200 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $21,090 | 410 |
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 Indiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,040 | $13.96 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,050 | $13.97 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,960 | $15.37 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,610 | $17.60 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,590 | $21.92 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,490 | $14.66 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,110 | $13.52 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,470 | $13.21 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,350 | $17.48 |
| Dishwasher | $30,520 | $14.67 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,500 | $14.67 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $49,010 | $23.56 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $21,440 | $10.31 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $38,160 | $18.35 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN
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 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN?
The median salary for bartenders in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $22,880 a year, or $11.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $17,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,290 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area earn at least $47,290 a year. The top 25% earn $36,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $17,610 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $21,210 or less.
How many bartenders work in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN?
About 4,480 bartenders are employed in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.