Bartenders pay in North Carolina
In North Carolina, the median pay for bartenders is $17.53 an hour ($36,470 a year). About 20,070 people work in this job there.
That is 6% higher than the U.S. median ($34,340). North Carolina ranks 18th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for bartenders in North Carolina
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $7.78 | $16,180 |
| 25% of workers | $10.45 | $21,740 |
| Half of workers (median) | $17.53 | $36,470 |
| 75% of workers | $27.41 | $57,010 |
| 90% of workers | $35.79 | $74,450 |
Bartenders pay in North Carolina metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $37,890 | 1,460 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines | $37,700 | 280 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $37,390 | 5,660 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $37,110 | 1,180 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $36,120 | 3,070 |
| Asheville | $35,380 | 1,240 |
| Winston-Salem | $34,920 | 1,020 |
| Fayetteville | $34,880 | 500 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $34,550 | 1,310 |
| Rocky Mount | $33,800 | 140 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $31,860 | 530 |
| Burlington | $31,170 | 260 |
| Jacksonville | $31,000 | 240 |
| Greenville | $30,190 | 300 |
| Goldsboro | $27,740 | 130 |
North Carolina unemployment rate: 3.5% (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 North Carolina
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,570 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $32,150 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,400 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,010 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $30,260 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,560 |
| Food Service Managers | $74,080 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,460 |
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.