Bartenders pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,210 a year or less, while the top 10% make $63,490 or more. The middle half of bartenders in Lexington earn between $17,670 and $47,540.
- $16K10th
- $18K25th
- $31KMedian
- $48K75th
- $63K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,730 | $3,061 | $17.66 |
| Median | $30,640 | $2,553 | $14.73 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $17,670 | $1,472 | $8.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,540 | $3,962 | $22.86 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Bartenders salary after taxes in Lexington
On the average salary of $36,730, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $29,515 a year, or $2,460 a month and $1,135 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for bartenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $36,730 buys what about $39,542 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 8.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 1st of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Lexington: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in Lexington?
$17.66 an hour on average, and $14.73 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,210 a year and the 25th percentile is $17,670, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in Lexington?
About $29,515 a year ($2,460 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,730. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do bartenders earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($41,635).
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 Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.5%.
- 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 Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.96, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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