SOC 35-3011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Bartenders — Louisiana
Louisiana · 10 metro areas compared
At $20,850, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Bartenders, 39.3% beneath the national figure of $34,340.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $20,850, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Bartenders, 39.3% beneath the national figure of $34,340. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $16,640 and $30,050. The lowest tenth earn under $15,080, while the highest tenth earn more than $41,600.
Employment stands at 10,140, or 5.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Louisiana ranks 50th by median wage. New Orleans leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $21,230. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 677th of 679 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $15,080 | −56.1% |
| 25th | $16,640 | −51.5% |
| Median (50th) | $20,850 | −39.3% |
| 75th | $30,050 | −12.5% |
| 90th | $41,600 | +21.1% |
| Mean | $25,250 | −26.5% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Louisiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Orleans | $21,230 | 4,200 | |
| 2 | Hammond | $20,650 | 220 | |
| 3 | Baton Rouge | $20,640 | 1,810 | |
| 4 | Monroe | $20,060 | 200 | |
| 5 | Slidell | $19,990 | 520 | |
| 6 | Shreveport | $19,770 | 700 | |
| 7 | Lafayette | $19,070 | 880 | |
| 8 | Houma | $18,990 | 300 | |
| 9 | Lake Charles | $18,280 | 550 | |
| 10 | Alexandria | $17,840 | 160 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Louisiana run 11.8% below the national average, so the median of $20,850 goes as far as $23,639 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 31.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$20,850as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$23,639US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $20,850 a year, 39.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $15,080 to $41,600 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 10,140 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 50th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is New Orleans, at $21,230.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Bartenders in Louisiana?
The median annual wage is $20,850, or $10.02 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 Louisiana is 39.3% 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 Louisiana earns more than $41,600 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $15,080 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 New Orleans, at $21,230 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 10,140 jobs in this occupation in Louisiana. 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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