Bartender salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Bartenders in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $48,030 a year ($23.09 an hour), based on BLS data for 14,560 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,510 for the top 10%. That is 40% higher than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 11% lower than the District of Columbia statewide median of $53,920. There are 4.6 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $56,200, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,480 | $16.58 |
| 25th percentile | $37,070 | $17.82 |
| Median | $48,030 | $23.09 |
| 75th percentile | $74,510 | $35.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $91,510 | $44.00 |
| Average (mean) | $56,200 | $27.02 |
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 | $4,002.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,001.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,847.31 |
| Weekly | $923.65 |
| Hourly | $23.09 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $48,030 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia 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 |
| 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 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $37,360 | 6,430 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $36,950 | 390 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $36,040 | 14,210 |
| Salisbury, MD | $34,890 | 230 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $33,620 | 670 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $31,240 | 280 |
| Charleston, WV | $30,900 | 350 |
| Morgantown, WV | $30,310 | 420 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $30,010 | 240 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $29,280 | 570 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $29,100 | 190 |
| Beckley, WV | $29,060 | 170 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $28,530 | 370 |
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 District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,600 | $16.64 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $46,040 | $22.14 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $37,540 | $18.05 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $42,920 | $20.64 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $47,580 | $22.87 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $37,630 | $18.09 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $37,260 | $17.91 |
| Dishwasher | $37,010 | $17.79 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,360 | $17.48 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $74,900 | $36.01 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $39,650 | $19.06 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $38,590 | $18.55 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for bartenders in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $48,030 a year, or $23.09 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $91,510 a year. The top 25% earn $74,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,480 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $37,070 or less.
How many bartenders work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 14,560 bartenders are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.