Bartenders pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,600 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,410 or more. The middle half of bartenders in Columbia earn between $28,600 and $37,840.
- $29K10th
- $29K25th
- $29KMedian
- $38K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,890 | $2,908 | $16.77 |
| Median | $28,600 | $2,383 | $13.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,600 | $2,383 | $13.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,840 | $3,153 | $18.19 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Bartenders salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $34,890, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $29,512 a year, or $2,459 a month and $1,135 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). The 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
Is Columbia a good place for bartenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.4), so the average $34,890 buys what about $39,010 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($47,260). A typical home costs $323,951, or 9.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in other Missouri cities
Columbia ranks 8th of 8 Missouri metro areas for this job; St. Louis pays the most ($38,700).
- St. Louis$38,700
- Kansas City$38,450
- St. Joseph$36,850
- Springfield$35,810
- Joplin$35,190
- Cape Girardeau$35,010
- Jefferson City$34,960
- Columbia$34,890
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Bartenders salary in Columbia: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in Columbia?
$16.78 an hour on average, and $13.75 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,600 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,600, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in Columbia?
About $29,512 a year ($2,459 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,890. The 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
Do bartenders earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% 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 Columbia, MO (17860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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). The 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.30, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.