SalaryExplorer

SOC 35-3011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

BartendersKansas

Kansas nonmetropolitan area · 4 metro areas compared

$25,470 /year
$12.25per hour
1,360jobs in area
25.8%vs US median

At $25,470, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Bartenders, 25.8% beneath the national figure of $34,340.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $34,34010TH$16,700MEDIAN$25,47075TH$31,20090TH$44,500

Salary overview

At $25,470, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Bartenders, 25.8% beneath the national figure of $34,340. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $17,870 and $31,200. The lowest tenth earn under $16,700, while the highest tenth earn more than $44,500.

The area has 1,360 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.75 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Lawrence leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $29,980. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 479th of 486 by median pay.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · Kansas nonmetropolitan area · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$16,700−51.4%
25th$17,870−48.0%
Median (50th)$25,470−25.8%
75th$31,200−9.1%
90th$44,500+29.6%
Mean$27,880−18.8%

Other metro areas in Kansas

Median annual wage for Bartenders, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Lawrence$29,980470
2Wichita$28,5401,300
3Topeka$27,860470
4Manhattan$27,160250

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in Kansas run 9.9% below the national average, so the median of $25,470 goes as far as $28,269 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 17.7% below the national median in real terms.

Published median

$25,470as reported by BLS

Local price level

90.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$28,269US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $25,470 a year, 25.8% below the national median.
  • Published pay spans $16,700 to $44,500 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 1,360 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Lawrence, at $29,980.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Bartenders in Kansas, KS?

The median annual wage is $25,470, or $12.25 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 Kansas, KS is 25.8% 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 Kansas, KS earns more than $44,500 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $16,700 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 Lawrence, at $29,980 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 1,360 jobs in this occupation in Kansas, KS. 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.

Bartenders Salary in Kansas, KS (2025): $25,470 Median | Salary Explorer