Bartenders pay range in Bowling Green
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,390 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,370 or more. The middle half of bartenders in Bowling Green earn between $16,310 and $38,580.
- $15K10th
- $16K25th
- $27KMedian
- $39K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,840 | $2,653 | $15.31 |
| Median | $26,800 | $2,233 | $12.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $16,310 | $1,359 | $7.84 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,580 | $3,215 | $18.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bartenders pay in Bowling Green vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Bartenders in Bowling Green earn 9% less than the Kentucky average ($34,970) and 22% less than the U.S. average ($40,790). At the median the gap is -22% against the U.S. median of $34,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | $31,840 | $26,800 | $15,390 | $59,370 | 270 |
| Kentucky | $34,970 | $28,780 | $16,110 | $63,140 | 6,870 |
| United States | $40,790 | $34,340 | $20,110 | $73,770 | 756,390 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Bartenders salary after taxes in Bowling Green
On the average salary of $31,840, a single filer in Bowling Green takes home about $26,130 a year, or $2,177 a month and $1,005 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
Is Bowling Green a good place for bartenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bowling Green area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.2), so the average $31,840 buys what about $35,308 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Bowling Green ($45,040). A typical home costs $267,047, or 8.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in other Kentucky cities
Bowling Green ranks 5th of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Lexington pays the most ($36,730).
- Lexington$36,730
- Louisville$35,660
- Elizabethtown$34,000
- Owensboro$33,620
- Bowling Green$31,840
- Paducah$29,450
Highest-paying cities for bartenders
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,360).
- Kahului, HI$91,360
- Honolulu, HI$72,660
- New York, NY$63,630
- Seattle, WA$62,090
- Portland, ME$60,600
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Bartenders salary in Bowling Green: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in Bowling Green?
$15.31 an hour on average, and $12.88 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Bowling Green?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,390 a year and the 25th percentile is $16,310, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in Bowling Green?
About $26,130 a year ($2,177 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,840. Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
Do bartenders earn more in Bowling Green than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% less than the U.S. average for this job ($40,790).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3011; area Bowling Green, KY (14540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.68, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.68).
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