Bartender salary in Iowa City, IA
Bartenders in the Iowa City, IA metro area earn a median of $21,900 a year ($10.53 an hour), based on BLS data for 790 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,720 for the top 10%. That is 36% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 1% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $21,720. There are 8.4 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $26,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Iowa City, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,980 | $7.68 |
| 25th percentile | $18,110 | $8.71 |
| Median | $21,900 | $10.53 |
| 75th percentile | $31,040 | $14.93 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,720 | $21.50 |
| Average (mean) | $26,570 | $12.77 |
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 | $1,825 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $912.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $842.31 |
| Weekly | $421.15 |
| Hourly | $10.53 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $34,630 | 3,790 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 1,470 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $23,750 | 430 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $22,340 | 2,200 |
| Dubuque, IA | $21,720 | 460 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $21,600 | 790 |
| Ames, IA | $21,580 | 450 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $21,540 | 540 |
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 Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Iowa City, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,760 | $13.83 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $22,030 | $10.59 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,350 | $14.11 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,910 | $17.27 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,970 | $18.73 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,670 | $17.63 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,200 | $14.04 |
| Dishwasher | $29,530 | $14.20 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,510 | $13.71 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,860 | $13.87 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,120 | $16.89 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $48,760 | $23.44 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,990 | $17.30 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Iowa City, IA
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 Iowa City, IA?
The median salary for bartenders in the Iowa City, IA metro area is $21,900 a year, or $10.53 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Iowa City, IA?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Iowa City, IA metro area earn at least $44,720 a year. The top 25% earn $31,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Iowa City, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,980 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $18,110 or less.
How many bartenders work in Iowa City, IA?
About 790 bartenders are employed in the Iowa City, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.