What are the main factors that influence a Bar Waitress's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Bar Waitress's salary?

A Bar Waitress's salary grows with experience: starting around $31,780 for beginners, reaching about $32,550 at mid-level, and approach $32,720 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a Bar Waitress?

Bar Waitress salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Bar Waitress roles are District of Columbia $34,757, California $34,625, Massachusetts $34,164. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Bar Waitress roles make?

Salaries for Bar Waitress level roles vary by specialization: Bar Manager: $83,810; Cashier and Waiter/Waitress: $38,622; Head Waitress: $36,677; Waitress Cashier: $34,755; Waitress - Institution: $31,653.

How do different companies affect a Bar Waitress's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Bar Waitress roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Bar Waitress Salary in the United States

How much does a Bar Waitress make in the United States?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Bar Waitress in the United States is $31,392 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $15.

However, a Bar Waitress's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $35,678
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $28,599 to $33,635
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $26,057

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Bar Waitress Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$33,635	$2,803	$647	$16
Average	$31,392	$2,616	$604	$15
25th Percentile	$28,599	$2,383	$550	$14

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Key Factors That Influence Bar Waitress Salaries

A Bar Waitress's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Bar Waitress Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Bar Waitress's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $31,780
Early Career (1-2 years): $32,041
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $32,550
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $32,652
Expert (over 8 years): $32,720

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Bar Waitress	$31,780
Intermediate Level Bar Waitress	$32,041
Senior Level Bar Waitress	$32,550
Specialist Level Bar Waitress	$32,652
Expert Level Bar Waitress	$32,720

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Bar Waitress Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Bar Waitresses. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $34,757.
California: $34,625.
Massachusetts: $34,164.

District of Columbia $34,757

California $34,625

Massachusetts $34,164

Washington $34,038

New Jersey $34,025

Alaska $33,982

Connecticut $33,548

New York $33,373

Hawaii $32,811

Rhode Island $32,547

Maryland $32,368

Minnesota $32,123

Colorado $32,029

Illinois $31,998

Oregon $31,878

Delaware $31,790

New Hampshire $31,735

Virginia $31,611

Pennsylvania $31,250

Nevada $31,068

North Dakota $31,009

Michigan $30,915

Wisconsin $30,880

Vermont $30,811

Texas $30,619

Maine $30,607

Arizona $30,588

Ohio $30,566

Georgia $30,277

Indiana $30,133

Wyoming $30,105

Utah $30,061

Iowa $30,042

Kansas $29,891

Louisiana $29,847

North Carolina $29,832

Missouri $29,825

Florida $29,703

Montana $29,637

Nebraska $29,574

Kentucky $29,540

South Carolina $29,414

Tennessee $29,336

Idaho $29,304

New Mexico $29,075

Oklahoma $29,025

Alabama $28,840

South Dakota $28,529

Arkansas $28,359

West Virginia $28,268

Mississippi $27,995

Top Paying Cities for Bar Waitresses

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

San Jose: $39,594
San Francisco: $39,161
Oakland: $38,336

San Jose, CA $39,594

San Francisco, CA $39,161

Oakland, CA $38,336

New York, NY $36,144

Paramus, NJ $35,705

Queens Village, NY $35,703

Passaic, NJ $35,673

Bergenfield, NJ $35,670

Stamford, CT $35,601

Huntington, NY $35,588

Newark, NJ $35,356

Bridgeport, CT $35,290

Vallejo, CA $35,228

New Brunswick, NJ $35,215

Petaluma, CA $35,196

Middlesex, NJ $35,137

Somerset, NJ $35,115

Santa Cruz, CA $35,074

Boston, MA $34,882

Monterey, CA $34,772

Seattle, WA $34,700

Santa Rosa, CA $34,694

Los Angeles, CA $34,685

Juneau, AK $34,603

Washington, DC $34,569

Orange, CA $34,457

Santa Ana, CA $34,374

Long Beach, CA $34,343

Anaheim, CA $34,336

Anchorage, AK $34,321

Santa Maria, CA $34,226

Everett, WA $34,220

Danbury, CT $34,110

Bremerton, WA $34,066

Tacoma, WA $33,953

New Suffolk, NY $33,953

Sacramento, CA $33,944

Santa Barbara, CA $33,909

Trenton, NJ $33,875

San Diego, CA $33,875

Brockton, MA $33,840

Fairbanks, AK $33,763

Lompoc, CA $33,683

Lowell, MA $33,658

Ventura, CA $33,652

Nashua, NH $33,646

Stockton, CA $33,642

Modesto, CA $33,413

Poughkeepsie, NY $33,344

Olympia, WA $33,285

Kennewick, WA $33,285

New Haven, CT $33,272

Lawrence, MA $33,159

Hartford, CT $33,128

Riverside, CA $33,121

New Bedford, MA $33,090

Richland, WA $33,090

Bakersfield, CA $33,046

San Bernardino, CA $33,033

New Britain, CT $33,030

Atlantic City, NJ $33,030

New London, CT $33,018

Norwich, CT $33,008

Portsmouth, NH $33,002

Boulder, CO $32,936

Portland, OR $32,892

Worcester, MA $32,889

Minneapolis, MN $32,792

Philadelphia, PA $32,748

Honolulu, HI $32,644

Saint Paul, MN $32,629

Vineland, NJ $32,622

Providence, RI $32,531

Chicago, IL $32,440

Bellingham, WA $32,403

Springfield, MA $32,377

Baltimore, MD $32,368

Chico, CA $32,290

Pittsfield, MA $32,205

Manchester, NH $32,145

Spokane, WA $32,007

Denver, CO $32,004

Albany, NY $31,856

Troy, NY $31,844

Nassau, NY $31,810

Schenectady, NY $31,778

Wilmington, DE $31,753

Burlington, VT $31,709

Salem, OR $31,696

Portland, ME $31,599

Yakima, WA $31,567

Rochester, MN $31,470

Reno, NV $31,454

Fresno, CA $31,454

Milwaukee, WI $31,426

Detroit, MI $31,395

Ann Arbor, MI $31,390

Allentown, PA $31,385

Colorado Springs, CO $31,332

Syracuse, NY $31,316

Carson City, NV $31,316

Houston, TX $31,272

Eugene, OR $31,257

Gary, IN $31,219

Springfield, OR $31,194

Bismarck, ND $31,188

Galveston, TX $31,166

Medford, OR $31,119

Fort Collins, CO $31,106

Concord, NH $31,090

Austin, TX $31,081

Mesa, AZ $31,015

Reading, PA $31,012

Phoenix, AZ $31,009

Dallas, TX $30,999

Saint Cloud, MN $30,969

Madison, WI $30,927

Utica, NY $30,842

Rochester, NY $30,792

Des Moines, IA $30,789

Raleigh, NC $30,786

Atlanta, GA $30,739

Battle Creek, MI $30,729

Salt Lake City, UT $30,720

Lancaster, PA $30,673

Harrisburg, PA $30,629

Kansas City, MO $30,597

Champaign, IL $30,591

Kansas City, KS $30,591

Fort Worth, TX $30,588

Columbus, OH $30,583

Boca Raton, FL $30,576

Pittsburgh, PA $30,563

Richmond, VA $30,550

Indianapolis, IN $30,544

Cleveland, OH $30,541

Las Vegas, NV $30,503

Cincinnati, OH $30,503

Petersburg, VA $30,456

Huntsville, AL $30,409

Lansing, MI $30,388

Lebanon, PA $30,384

Pueblo, CO $30,381

Appleton, WI $30,371

Buffalo, NY $30,359

Dayton, OH $30,349

Racine, WI $30,343

Charlotte, NC $30,340

Saint Louis, MO $30,331

York, PA $30,312

Elkhart, IN $30,312

Gastonia, NC $30,306

Billings, MT $30,298

Beaumont, TX $30,290

Lorain, OH $30,284

Benton Harbor, MI $30,277

Toledo, OH $30,271

Binghamton, NY $30,255

Rock Hill, SC $30,252

Rockford, IL $30,236

Springfield, IL $30,224

Elyria, OH $30,221

Fargo, ND $30,221

Flagstaff, AZ $30,199

Fort Lauderdale, FL $30,180

Duluth, MN $30,161

Miami, FL $30,161

Cheyenne, WY $30,139

Grand Forks, ND $30,139

Bangor, ME $30,070

Cedar Rapids, IA $30,036

Durham, NC $30,022

Louisville, KY $30,020

Grand Rapids, MI $30,014

Hialeah, FL $30,010

Casper, WY $29,967

Scranton, PA $29,929

New Orleans, LA $29,919

Virginia Beach, VA $29,916

Akron, OH $29,901

Peoria, IL $29,860

Sarasota, FL $29,854

Nashville, TN $29,832

Omaha, NE $29,832

Green Bay, WI $29,832

Baton Rouge, LA $29,816

Charleston, SC $29,810

Jamestown, NY $29,794

Davenport, IA $29,794

Tucson, AZ $29,778

Saint Petersburg, FL $29,759

Tampa, FL $29,753

Evansville, IN $29,734

Port Arthur, TX $29,734

Bradenton, FL $29,722

Santa Fe, NM $29,665

Orlando, FL $29,609

Clearwater, FL $29,599

Canton, OH $29,533

La Crosse, WI $29,533

Albuquerque, NM $29,514

Newport News, VA $29,511

High Point, NC $29,502

Ogden, UT $29,489

Corpus Christi, TX $29,464

Norfolk, VA $29,445

Laramie, WY $29,445

Rock Island, IL $29,427

Saginaw, MI $29,420

Jacksonville, FL $29,417

Salisbury, NC $29,411

Boise, ID $29,405

Moline, IL $29,389

Fort Myers, FL $29,379

Memphis, TN $29,373

Tulsa, OK $29,358

Waterloo, IA $29,339

Spartanburg, SC $29,307

Lincoln, NE $29,292

Fort Wayne, IN $29,285

Provo, UT $29,282

Cedar Falls, IA $29,245

San Antonio, TX $29,232

Greensboro, NC $29,219

South Bend, IN $29,216

Savannah, GA $29,182

Muskegon, MI $29,169

Birmingham, AL $29,166

Winston Salem, NC $29,151

Lake Charles, LA $29,075

Anderson, IN $29,069

Lexington, KY $29,059

Augusta, GA $29,050

Greenville, SC $29,050

Lima, OH $29,025

Wichita, KS $29,022

Tuscaloosa, AL $29,022

Columbia, SC $28,993

Springfield, OH $28,987

Asheville, NC $28,937

Bloomington, IN $28,915

Knoxville, TN $28,802

Shreveport, LA $28,799

Wilmington, NC $28,758

Roanoke, VA $28,758

Topeka, KS $28,701

Frankfort, KY $28,698

Oklahoma City, OK $28,676

Chillicothe, OH $28,664

Longview, TX $28,661

Melbourne, FL $28,657

Sioux Falls, SD $28,607

Mobile, AL $28,604

Terre Haute, IN $28,592

Altoona, PA $28,573

Amarillo, TX $28,551

Killeen, TX $28,541

Fayetteville, AR $28,516

Chattanooga, TN $28,507

Sioux City, IA $28,479

Idaho Falls, ID $28,472

Lynchburg, VA $28,447

Gainesville, FL $28,406

Portsmouth, OH $28,391

Little Rock, AR $28,384

Lafayette, LA $28,372

Youngstown, OH $28,372

Daytona Beach, FL $28,353

Clarksville, TN $28,350

Pensacola, FL $28,347

Temple, TX $28,345

Hopkinsville, KY $28,253

Erie, PA $28,246

Florence, SC $28,234

Charleston, WV $28,183

Great Falls, MT $28,168

Macon, GA $28,124

Tallahassee, FL $28,121

Fayetteville, NC $28,114

Waco, TX $28,108

Helena, MT $28,086

Pine Bluff, AR $28,074

Vincennes, IN $28,036

Lubbock, TX $28,023

Alamogordo, NM $28,005

Twin Falls, ID $27,976

Rapid City, SD $27,967

Jackson, MS $27,910

Huntington, WV $27,908

Greenville, MS $27,907

Parkersburg, WV $27,875

Montgomery, AL $27,870

Wichita Falls, TX $27,838

Springfield, MO $27,838

Biloxi, MS $27,822

Monroe, LA $27,791

Johnstown, PA $27,769

Sumter, SC $27,757

Columbus, GA $27,753

Pascagoula, MS $27,694

Abilene, TX $27,694

Kingsport, TN $27,612

Albany, GA $27,612

Gulfport, MS $27,603

Alexandria, LA $27,499

Fort Smith, AR $27,421

El Paso, TX $27,336

Las Cruces, NM $27,195

Harlingen, TX $27,115

Pocatello, ID $27,110

Florence, AL $27,069

Brownsville, TX $27,063

Mcallen, TX $26,997

Dothan, AL $26,953

Columbus, MS $26,766

Altus, OK $26,620

Lawton, OK $26,561

Pierre, SD $26,448

What Skills Can Increase a Bar Waitress's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Commitment (Mentioned in 9.34% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
Healthcare Services (Mentioned in 3.03% Job Postings): The improvement of health via the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, amelioration or cure of disease, illness, injury and other physical and mental impairments in people. Health care is delivered by health professionals and allied health fields.
POS System (Mentioned in 2.12% Job Postings): Point-of-sale system is the hardware and software that enable your business to make those sales.A point of sale, or point of purchase, is where you ring up customers.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Commitment	9.34%
Healthcare Services	3.03%
POS System	2.12%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Bar Waitress's salary.

SOP: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
Hard Working: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Organizing: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
SOP	$36,728	17%
Hard Working	$33,589	7%
Organizing	$33,589	7%
Problem Solving	$33,589	7%
Organizational Skills	$33,275	6%
Commitment	$32,961	5%

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How Education impacts a Bar Waitress's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Bar Waitresses enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Bar Waitress with a No Diploma is between $28,238 and $30,684).

Bar Waitress Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Bar Waitress

No Diploma 5.8%

High School 52.8%

Associates 13.0%

Bachelors 26.0%

Masters 2.1%

Doctorate 0.3%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	5.8%
High School	52.8%
Associates	13.0%
Bachelors	26.0%
Masters	2.1%
Doctorate	0.3%

view as graph

Bar Waitress Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Bar Waitress's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on May 01, 2026

$28,599

Average $31,392/year

$33,635

$2,383

Average $2,616/month

$2,803

$550

Average $604/week

$647

$14

Average $15/hour

$16

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$33,635	$2,803	$647	$16
Average	$31,392	$2,616	$604	$15
25th Percentile	$28,599	$2,383	$550	$14

Salaries of jobs related to Bar Waitress

Salary Trends for Bar Waitress

Salaries for a Bar Waitress can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $31,133 in 2023 to around $30,624 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Bar Waitress salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Bar Waitress Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$31,133

2024

$30,982

2025

$30,624

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$31,133
2024	$30,982
2025	$30,624
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Bar Waitress

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Healthcare

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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