Bartenders pay range in Detroit
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,710 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,300 or more. The middle half of bartenders in Detroit earn between $29,510 and $59,040.
- $27K10th
- $30K25th
- $37KMedian
- $59K75th
- $76K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,140 | $3,762 | $21.70 |
| Median | $36,780 | $3,065 | $17.68 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,510 | $2,459 | $14.19 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,040 | $4,920 | $28.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Bartenders salary after taxes in Detroit
On the average salary of $45,140, a single filer in Detroit takes home about $35,834 a year, or $2,986 a month and $1,378 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Is Detroit a good place for bartenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Detroit area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.3), so the average $45,140 buys what about $45,006 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Detroit ($52,080). A typical home costs $269,080, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in other Michigan cities
Detroit ranks 6th of 15 Michigan metro areas for this job; Grand Rapids pays the most ($48,100).
- Grand Rapids$48,100
- Ann Arbor$47,190
- Lansing$45,990
- Midland$45,450
- Niles$45,280
- Detroit$45,140
- Kalamazoo$45,050
- Battle Creek$44,540
- Traverse City$44,510
- Monroe$44,160
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 Detroit: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in Detroit?
$21.70 an hour on average, and $17.68 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,710 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,510, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in Detroit?
About $35,834 a year ($2,986 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,140. Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Do bartenders earn more in Detroit than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% more 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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (19820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.83, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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