SOC 35-3011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Bartenders — Bowling Green
Bowling Green, KY · 5 metro areas compared
The median wage for Bartenders in Bowling Green, KY is $26,800 per year, 22.0% below the national median of $34,340.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Bartenders in Bowling Green, KY is $26,800 per year, 22.0% below the national median of $34,340. Pay ranges from under $15,390 at the tenth percentile to more than $59,370 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $16,310 to $38,580.
Employment stands at 270, or 3.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Lexington leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $30,640. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 271st of 279 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $15,390 | −55.2% |
| 25th | $16,310 | −52.5% |
| Median (50th) | $26,800 | −22.0% |
| 75th | $38,580 | +12.3% |
| 90th | $59,370 | +72.9% |
| Mean | $31,840 | −7.3% |
Other metro areas in Kentucky
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexington | $30,640 | 1,340 | |
| 2 | Louisville/Jefferson County | $29,120 | 2,830 | |
| 3 | Owensboro | $26,810 | 160 | |
| 4 | Elizabethtown | $26,620 | 130 | |
| 5 | Paducah | $26,350 | 180 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Bowling Green run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $26,800 goes as far as $29,712 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 13.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$26,800as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$29,712US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $26,800 a year, 22.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $15,390 to $59,370 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 270 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Lexington, at $30,640.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Bartenders in Bowling Green, KY?
The median annual wage is $26,800, or $12.88 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $34,340, so pay in Bowling Green, KY is 22.0% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Bowling Green, KY earns more than $59,370 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $15,390 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Lexington, at $30,640 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 270 jobs in this occupation in Bowling Green, KY. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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