Bartender salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Bartenders in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median of $58,180 a year ($27.97 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,640 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,230 for the top 10%. That is 69% higher than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 4% higher than the Washington statewide median of $55,830. There are 4.6 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $62,090, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,340 | $19.39 |
| 25th percentile | $49,470 | $23.79 |
| Median | $58,180 | $27.97 |
| 75th percentile | $70,140 | $33.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,230 | $46.26 |
| Average (mean) | $62,090 | $29.85 |
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 | $4,848.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,424.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,237.69 |
| Weekly | $1,118.85 |
| Hourly | $27.97 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $58,180 salary, see how much house you can afford in Washington 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $56,640 | 270 |
| Bellingham, WA | $56,110 | 600 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $55,820 | 600 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $54,030 | 120 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $53,810 | 560 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $50,210 | 1,100 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $50,180 | 530 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $49,930 | 210 |
| Yakima, WA | $49,700 | 350 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $48,220 | 390 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $45,590 | 6,980 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $29,290 | 130 |
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 Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $39,150 | $18.82 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $57,280 | $27.54 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $40,640 | $19.54 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $47,730 | $22.95 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $61,610 | $29.62 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $43,830 | $21.07 |
| Dishwasher | $42,750 | $20.55 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $38,430 | $18.48 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $51,530 | $24.77 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $44,030 | $21.17 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $80,330 | $38.62 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $45,120 | $21.69 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $50,870 | $24.46 |
| Cooks, All Other | $53,910 | $25.92 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median salary for bartenders in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $58,180 a year, or $27.97 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,230 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn at least $96,230 a year. The top 25% earn $70,140 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,340 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $49,470 or less.
How many bartenders work in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
About 9,640 bartenders are employed in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.