Bartender salary in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
Bartenders in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median of $28,190 a year ($13.55 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,540 workers.
Pay ranges from $16,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,470 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 3% higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $27,480. There are 4.1 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $32,090, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,740 | $8.05 |
| 25th percentile | $18,840 | $9.06 |
| Median | $28,190 | $13.55 |
| 75th percentile | $39,470 | $18.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,470 | $27.63 |
| Average (mean) | $32,090 | $15.43 |
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 | $2,349.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,174.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,084.23 |
| Weekly | $542.12 |
| Hourly | $13.55 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $28,190 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $31,240 | 280 |
| Knoxville, TN | $28,860 | 1,400 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $28,710 | 1,380 |
| 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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,150 | $14.02 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,390 | $14.13 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,830 | $16.27 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,170 | $18.35 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,630 | $21.94 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,640 | $16.65 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $34,210 | $16.45 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,800 | $13.85 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,520 | $14.19 |
| Dishwasher | $34,380 | $16.53 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,910 | $18.23 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $70,420 | $33.86 |
| Cooks, All Other | $33,220 | $15.97 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,830 | $18.19 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
The median salary for bartenders in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $28,190 a year, or $13.55 an hour. Pay ranges from $16,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,470 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn at least $57,470 a year. The top 25% earn $39,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $16,740 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $18,840 or less.
How many bartenders work in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
About 4,540 bartenders are employed in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.