SalaryExplorer

SOC 35-3011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

BartendersMichigan City

Michigan City-La Porte, IN · 10 metro areas compared

$22,430 /year
$10.79per hour
250jobs in area
34.7%vs US median

At $22,430, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Bartenders, 34.7% beneath the national figure of $34,340.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $34,34010TH$16,150MEDIAN$22,43075TH$30,30090TH$46,420

Salary overview

At $22,430, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Bartenders, 34.7% beneath the national figure of $34,340. Pay ranges from under $16,150 at the tenth percentile to more than $46,420 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $17,630 to $30,300.

Employment stands at 250, or 6.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Columbus records the highest median at $23,700. Of the 195 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 195th.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · Michigan City-La Porte, IN · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$16,150−53.0%
25th$17,630−48.7%
Median (50th)$22,430−34.7%
75th$30,300−11.8%
90th$46,420+35.2%
Mean$27,280−20.6%

Other metro areas in Indiana

Median annual wage for Bartenders, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Columbus$23,700150
2Elkhart$23,120210
3Kokomo$23,060180
4Fort Wayne$23,010850
5South Bend$23,000580
6Indianapolis$22,8804,480
7Lafayette$22,680460
8Bloomington$22,370440
9Evansville$22,360590
10Muncie$21,780200

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in Michigan City run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $22,430 goes as far as $24,041 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 30.0% below the national median in real terms.

Published median

$22,430as reported by BLS

Local price level

93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$24,041US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $22,430 a year, 34.7% below the national median.
  • Published pay spans $16,150 to $46,420 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 250 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Columbus, at $23,700.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Bartenders in Michigan City, IN?

The median annual wage is $22,430, or $10.79 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 Michigan City, IN is 34.7% 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 Michigan City, IN earns more than $46,420 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $16,150 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 Columbus, at $23,700 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 250 jobs in this occupation in Michigan City, IN. 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 Michigan City, IN (2025): $22,430 Median | Salary Explorer