Bartenders pay range in Wilmington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,630 or more. The middle half of bartenders in Wilmington earn between $22,000 and $59,330.
- $16K10th
- $22K25th
- $38KMedian
- $59K75th
- $77K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,400 | $3,617 | $20.87 |
| Median | $37,890 | $3,158 | $18.22 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $22,000 | $1,833 | $10.58 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,330 | $4,944 | $28.52 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bartenders pay in Wilmington vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Bartenders in Wilmington earn 5% more than the North Carolina average ($41,200) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($40,790). At the median the gap is +10% against the U.S. median of $34,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $43,400 | $37,890 | $15,990 | $76,630 | 1,460 |
| North Carolina | $41,200 | $36,470 | $16,180 | $74,450 | 20,070 |
| 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 Wilmington
On the average salary of $43,400, a single filer in Wilmington takes home about $35,829 a year, or $2,986 a month and $1,378 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Wilmington a good place for bartenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wilmington area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.4), so the average $43,400 buys what about $45,010 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Wilmington ($45,800). A typical home costs $446,210, or 10.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in other North Carolina cities
Wilmington ranks 1st of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Wilmington$43,400
- Charlotte$43,270
- Pinehurst$42,630
- Durham$42,080
- Raleigh$41,500
- Winston-Salem$40,710
- Asheville$40,220
- Rocky Mount$39,290
- Burlington$39,140
- Greensboro$38,740
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 Wilmington: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in Wilmington?
$20.86 an hour on average, and $18.22 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $22,000, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in Wilmington?
About $35,829 a year ($2,986 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,400.
Do bartenders earn more in Wilmington than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% more 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 Wilmington, NC (48900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.9%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.57, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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