SOC 35-3011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Bartenders — New York
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ · 10 metro areas compared
At $61,220 a year, the median wage for Bartenders in New York, NY sits 78.3% above the national figure of $34,340.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $61,220 a year, the median wage for Bartenders in New York, NY sits 78.3% above the national figure of $34,340. Half of workers earn between $39,790 and $79,240. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $34,410 and the ninetieth at $94,640.
The area has 38,510 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 4.1 of every thousand jobs. Binghamton leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $47,950. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 477th of 757 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,410 | +0.2% |
| 25th | $39,790 | +15.9% |
| Median (50th) | $61,220 | +78.3% |
| 75th | $79,240 | +130.8% |
| 90th | $94,640 | +175.6% |
| Mean | $63,630 | +85.3% |
Other metro areas in New York
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Binghamton | $47,950 | 640 | |
| 2 | Kingston | $47,760 | 450 | |
| 3 | Albany | $47,370 | 1,970 | |
| 4 | Buffalo | $46,920 | 2,890 | |
| 5 | Syracuse | $46,710 | 1,540 | |
| 6 | Glens Falls | $46,470 | 320 | |
| 7 | Kiryas Joel | $46,320 | 1,180 | |
| 8 | Rochester | $45,920 | 2,140 | |
| 9 | Ithaca | $44,040 | 280 | |
| 10 | Elmira | $41,110 | 170 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in New York run 7.9% above the national average, so the median of $61,220 buys what $56,738 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 65.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$61,220as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$56,738US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $61,220 a year, 78.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,410 to $94,640 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 38,510 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Binghamton, at $47,950.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Bartenders in New York, NY?
The median annual wage is $61,220, or $29.43 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 New York, NY is 78.3% higher. 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 New York, NY earns more than $94,640 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,410 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 Binghamton, at $47,950 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 38,510 jobs in this occupation in New York, NY. 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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