Bartender salary in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
Bartenders in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn a median of $29,120 a year ($14.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,830 workers.
Pay ranges from $16,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,430 for the top 10%. That is 15% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 1% higher than the Kentucky statewide median of $28,780. There are 4.1 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $35,660, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,800 | $8.08 |
| 25th percentile | $20,430 | $9.82 |
| Median | $29,120 | $14.00 |
| 75th percentile | $45,770 | $22.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,430 | $30.01 |
| Average (mean) | $35,660 | $17.14 |
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 | $2,426.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,213.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,120 |
| Weekly | $560 |
| Hourly | $14.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $29,120 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $34,240 | 5,870 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $31,200 | 28,750 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $30,640 | 1,340 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $29,280 | 570 |
| Owensboro, KY | $26,810 | 160 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $26,800 | 270 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $26,620 | 130 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $26,350 | 180 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $24,230 | 290 |
| 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 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $22,880 | 4,480 |
| 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 Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,690 | $13.79 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,180 | $14.51 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,780 | $15.28 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,950 | $17.28 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,800 | $18.65 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,990 | $12.98 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,640 | $14.25 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,370 | $17.97 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,590 | $13.26 |
| Dishwasher | $29,770 | $14.31 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,030 | $13.48 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $46,310 | $22.27 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,630 | $14.24 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
The median salary for bartenders in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area is $29,120 a year, or $14.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $16,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,430 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn at least $62,430 a year. The top 25% earn $45,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $16,800 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $20,430 or less.
How many bartenders work in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
About 2,830 bartenders are employed in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.