Bartenders pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
In Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (IL), the median pay for bartenders is $15.00 an hour ($31,200 a year). About 28,750 people work in this job there.
That is 9% lower than the U.S. median ($34,340). It is about the same as the Illinois median ($31,200).
Pay range for bartenders in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (IL)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $15.00 | $31,200 |
| 25% of workers | $15.00 | $31,200 |
| Half of workers (median) | $15.00 | $31,200 |
| 75% of workers | $16.10 | $33,500 |
| 90% of workers | $23.33 | $48,530 |
Bartenders pay in Illinois metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | $31,200 | 580 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $31,200 | 1,070 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (this page) | $31,200 | 28,750 |
| Decatur | $31,200 | 320 |
| Kankakee | $31,200 | 290 |
| Peoria | $31,200 | 1,330 |
| Rockford | $31,200 | 1,220 |
| Springfield | $31,200 | 870 |
Illinois unemployment rate: 4.7% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for bartenders
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 6 months to 1 year (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +5% over ten years, faster than average · about 121,200 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (IL)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,630 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,930 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $42,650 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $35,410 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,670 |
| Food Service Managers | $65,620 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.