Bartenders pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,560 a year or less, while the top 10% make $56,350 or more. The middle half of bartenders in Memphis earn between $20,440 and $47,150.
- $17K10th
- $20K25th
- $29KMedian
- $47K75th
- $56K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,840 | $2,820 | $16.27 |
| Median | $28,710 | $2,392 | $13.80 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $20,440 | $1,703 | $9.83 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,150 | $3,929 | $22.67 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Bartenders salary after taxes in Memphis
On the average salary of $33,840, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $29,370 a year, or $2,448 a month and $1,130 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $29,370 | $2,448 |
| Working in MS | $28,749 | $2,396 |
| Working in AR | $28,605 | $2,384 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for bartenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $33,840 buys what about $36,711 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 7.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 2nd of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Kingsport pays the most ($35,570).
- Kingsport$35,570
- Memphis$33,840
- Knoxville$32,530
- Nashville$32,090
- Chattanooga$31,360
- Morristown$31,270
- Cleveland$30,840
- Jackson$29,190
- Clarksville$28,100
- Johnson City$27,080
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 Memphis: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in Memphis?
$16.27 an hour on average, and $13.80 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,560 a year and the 25th percentile is $20,440, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in Memphis?
About $29,370 a year ($2,448 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,840. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do bartenders earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.0%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.46, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.46).
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