Bartender salary in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
Bartenders in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn a median of $31,240 a year ($15.02 an hour), based on BLS data for 280 workers.
Pay ranges from $16,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,980 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 14% higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $27,480. There are 2.3 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.47). The average (mean) salary is $35,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,190 | $7.79 |
| 25th percentile | $22,690 | $10.91 |
| Median | $31,240 | $15.02 |
| 75th percentile | $45,250 | $21.75 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,980 | $29.32 |
| Average (mean) | $35,570 | $17.10 |
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 | $2,603.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,301.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,201.54 |
| Weekly | $600.77 |
| Hourly | $15.02 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $31,240 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville, VA | $48,210 | 650 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $48,030 | 14,560 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $46,700 | 2,860 |
| Roanoke, VA | $46,530 | 520 |
| Richmond, VA | $46,070 | 2,110 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $44,940 | 280 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $44,620 | 180 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $44,350 | 290 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $43,070 | 270 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $41,640 | 240 |
| Knoxville, TN | $28,860 | 1,400 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $28,710 | 1,380 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $28,190 | 4,540 |
| Cleveland, TN | $25,710 | 110 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $25,650 | 890 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $24,230 | 290 |
| Morristown, TN | $23,730 | 70 |
| Jackson, TN | $22,030 | 180 |
| Johnson City, TN | $21,700 | 270 |
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 Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,890 | $12.93 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,210 | $13.56 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $28,430 | $13.67 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,300 | $17.93 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,600 | $16.63 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $28,020 | $13.47 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,930 | $12.95 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,210 | $16.93 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,250 | $13.10 |
| Dishwasher | $28,500 | $13.70 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,620 | $12.80 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,510 | $14.67 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $55,360 | $26.62 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,280 | $16.96 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
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 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
The median salary for bartenders in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area is $31,240 a year, or $15.02 an hour. Pay ranges from $16,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,980 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn at least $60,980 a year. The top 25% earn $45,250 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $16,190 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $22,690 or less.
How many bartenders work in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
About 280 bartenders are employed in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.