Bartenders pay in Kentucky
In Kentucky, the median pay for bartenders is $13.84 an hour ($28,780 a year). About 6,870 people work in this job there.
That is 16% lower than the U.S. median ($34,340). Kentucky ranks 32nd of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for bartenders in Kentucky
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $7.75 | $16,110 |
| 25% of workers | $8.62 | $17,920 |
| Half of workers (median) | $13.84 | $28,780 |
| 75% of workers | $22.01 | $45,770 |
| 90% of workers | $30.36 | $63,140 |
Bartenders pay in Kentucky metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette | $30,640 | 1,340 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $29,120 | 2,830 |
| Owensboro | $26,810 | 160 |
| Bowling Green | $26,800 | 270 |
| Elizabethtown | $26,620 | 130 |
| Paducah | $26,350 | 180 |
Kentucky 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 Kentucky
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,130 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,660 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $35,810 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $26,850 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,640 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $32,200 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,330 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $48,070 |
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.